Turkic Muslim religious leaders adopt Baku Declaration

BAKU, Azerbaijan (MNTV) — Muslim religious leaders from the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) have adopted a “Baku Declaration” calling for stronger religious and scientific cooperation among Turkic countries and joint efforts against extremism and anti-Muslim hatred, the Azerbaijani outlet Report said.

The declaration was adopted Sept. 14 at the seventh meeting of the Council of Heads of Muslim Religious Boards of the OTS — a bloc of Turkic-majority states including Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan — which drew religious and academic figures from 40 countries. 

It calls for promoting Turkic-Islamic values, protecting women’s and children’s rights, coordinating fatwas (religious rulings), and continued efforts against terrorism, extremism, Islamophobia, and sectarian discrimination. 

The framing praised Azerbaijan’s “model of multiculturalism and tolerance,” reflecting the host government’s presentation of the event.

Artificial intelligence emerged as a theme. Sheikhulislam Allahshukur Pashazada, head of the Caucasus Muslims Board, said the implications of AI for Islamic law “deserves close and separate consideration” by muftis, while Kazakhstan’s chief mufti, Nauryzbay Taganuly, stressed guiding young people toward reliable information amid AI-generated content. 

Türkiye’s religious-affairs head, Safi Arpagus, called for coordinating common dates for Ramadan and Eid and resolving “confusion over fatwas” among Turkic states, and voiced concern over attempts to associate Islam with violence and over hate speech directed at Muslims.