- Delegates from 57 countries are attending the second edition of the OIC festival in UAE
- Festival aims to promote Islamic values of tolerance, highlight heritage and art of Muslim world
ISLAMABAD: The Organization of Islamic Cooperation on Wednesday awarded Hafiz Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, the chairman of the Pakistan Ulema Council, its Universal Award for his struggle to eradicate terrorism, extremism and sectarian violence from Pakistan and across the Muslim world.
A special ceremony was arranged in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday at which UAE Minister for Tolerance and Harmony, Al-Sheikh Al-Nehan Al-Mubarak, and Secretary General OIC, Dr. Yusuf Ahmed Al-Asmeen, conferred the Universal Award upon Ashrafi.
The ceremony was attended by delegates of 57 Islamic countries and ambassadors of Muslim countries in UAE.
“It is an honor for me and I dedicate the award to the continued struggle of ulemas (clerics) of Pakistan who are effectively struggling for the annihilation of terrorism and extremism from Pakistan and the Muslim world,” Ashrafi told Arab News.
The ceremony was part of the four-day OIC Festival themed “A Nation Unified by Benevolent Cooperation, Justice & Tolerance.” The aim of the event is to promote Islamic values of tolerance and coexistence and highlight the heritage, art, and talents of Muslim states. The festival concludes on April 27.