The Grand Mufti and President of the Religious Administration of Muslims of Kazakhstan, Nauryzbay Haj Taganuly Otpenov, praised on Monday the "leading role" played by the Kingdom of Morocco in combatting religious extremism.
During a meeting with Morocco’s Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Mohammed Rachid Maaninou, Taganuly Otpenov commended the "spiritual and leading role played by the Kingdom of Morocco in the religious sphere, particularly in the fight against religious extremism and in strengthening Islamic solidarity," according to a press release from the Moroccan embassy in Astana.
He also expressed appreciation for the shared values rooted in the teachings of Islam that unite the two countries, and his admiration for "Morocco’s leadership in promoting the values of peace, tolerance, and interfaith and intercultural dialogue."
On this occasion, Maaninou presented the Religious Administration of Muslims of Kazakhstan with a donation of copies of the Holy Qur’an, printed by the Mohammed VI Foundation for the Edition of the Holy Quran.
"This initiative is part of the promotion of the Moroccan religious model, in accordance with the High Directives of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful, may God glorify and assist Him. It also aims to strengthen cooperation between the Kingdom of Morocco and Kazakhstan, which are bound by an agreement in this field," the press release noted.
During the meeting, Maaninou highlighted the spiritual and religious ties between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Kazakhstan, as well as the "fruitful" outcomes of the working visit to Morocco by Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs last February.
This visit gave "strong momentum" to bilateral cooperation across various sectors, the diplomat noted, expressing the embassy’s readiness to collaborate with the Religious Administration of Muslims of Kazakhstan and to support its religious activities, which "always feature a distinguished Moroccan presence."
The ambassador also expressed hope for the success of the 8th Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, scheduled for early September in Astana.
Taganuly Otpenov, who had taken part in the religious talks organized in the Kingdom during the holy month of Ramadan, expressed his gratitude and thanks to His Majesty King Mohammed VI for the Sovereign’s deep care for religious affairs.
He also thanked the Kingdom of Morocco for the gift of Qur’an copies, which, according to him, will enrich the library of the Religious Administration and allow worshippers in various mosques in Astana to experience the Holy Qur’an written in an authentic Moroccan script.
MAP:14 mai 2025
