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Laman Ismayilova

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OIC Cultural Festival: Baku Creative Week – 2025 has kicked off in Baku, with the partnership of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the organisation of the Azerbaijan Culture Ministry and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Azernews reports.

A special video dedicated to the cultural heritage of the Islamic world was presented at the opening ceremony.

Delivering the opening speech, Azerbaijan Culture Minister Adil Karimli emphasised that holding the Islamic Culture Festival in Baku will serve as a platform for dialogue, partnership, and new ideas for representatives of the creative industries from across the Islamic world. He noted that the event, which is expected to host more than 300 international participants from over 40 countries and more than 5,000 visitors, will make a significant contribution to expanding and developing connections among all participants in the creative industries, while also presenting visitors with various creative and innovative solutions.

"Therefore, we express our deep gratitude to the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, for creating all the necessary conditions for the successful implementation of this event. We also wish to extend our thanks to the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, especially to the First Lady of Azerbaijan and President of the Foundation, Mehriban Aliyeva, for her constant support of cultural projects of both national and global scale. Hosting this event and ensuring the participation of such a wide and diverse range of creative people is a great honour and pride for us," the minister stressed.

Tarig Ali Bakheet, OIC Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian, Cultural and Social Affairs and Special Envoy of the OIC Secretary General on Afghanistan, expressed his gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev for his unwavering support in strengthening Islamic solidarity:

"It is precisely this strong will and strategic approach that makes a serious contribution to elevating our cooperation within the Islamic world to a new stage.

This festival brings us together on an important platform, becoming a true embodiment of unity, dialogue, and cultural convergence. The support of the OIC Secretariat and all participants in deepening our cultural ties has a significant impact on strengthening mutual dialogue. Such events are not only a showcase of creativity and culture but also create a unified cultural platform that strategically strengthens our organisation and consolidates our common values. Naturally, the formation of such a platform serves closer coordination of our future activities, mutual understanding, and cooperation. Creativity is not only about art but is a fundamental feature directed toward human development. Societies that support creativity invest primarily in the potential of their youth. Young people who embrace positive values and safeguard cultural and spiritual heritage become cultural ambassadors, building bridges between societies. In this regard, this festival in Baku is not only an event of today but also the foundation of tomorrow’s shared vision of culture, creativity, and development."

Pakistan’s Federal Minister for National Heritage and Culture, Aurangzeb Khan Khichi, stated that Pakistan is always ready to actively participate in initiatives that strengthen Islamic solidarity and promote common cultural values:

"We see this platform not merely as a festival but as an important opportunity for cultural convergence, creative exchange, and strategic cooperation within the Islamic world. This event once again demonstrates that our shared history, cultural roots, and religious unity bind us together not only symbolically but also in the spirit of real partnership. We particularly emphasise that Pakistan is committed to cooperation at all levels to ensure the continued strengthening of this unity.

Azerbaijan's steps in the field of cultural diplomacy, as well as its contribution to cultural cooperation on both regional and global scales, are commendable. We believe this fruitful activity will continue and will serve to further strengthen the cultural identity of the Islamic world."

Egypt's Minister of Culture, Ahmed Fouad Hanno, noted that Azerbaijan today plays a model role not only in preserving cultural heritage but also as a center of creativity and cultural cooperation in the Islamic world:

"As the Arab Republic of Egypt, we believe this initiative serves to expand cultural dialogue in our region, strengthen historical ties, and promote our common spiritual values to the world. We are confident that the festival will allow us to jointly showcase the cultural strength, creative potential, and modern cultural policy of the Islamic world."

He added that every creative representative, expert, and cultural institution participating in the festival serves a common mission – to preserve cultural heritage, pass it on properly to future generations, and enrich it with modern innovative approaches.

Libya's Minister of Culture and Cognitive Development, Mabrouka Toghi, highly valued Azerbaijan's contribution to strengthening Islamic solidarity:

"These steps serve not only regional but also global cultural cooperation."

She emphasised that culture is not only about remembering the past but also one of the strongest tools for strategically shaping the future. Culture fosters understanding among people, trust among nations, and mutual respect and cooperation among states.

Palestine's Culture Minister, Imad al-Din" Abdullah Salim Hamdan, stressed that the OIC Culture Festival is not only a cultural showcase but also a manifestation of our common identity, historical unity, and spiritual values on the world stage:

"The cultural heritage of the Islamic world is a sacred legacy that carries the memory, historical existence, and cultural stability of millions of people. Palestine's cultural policy is aimed precisely at preserving this heritage, transmitting it across generations, and enriching it with modern creative forms.

This festival creates a new space for dialogue, a cultural platform, and an environment of integration for creative people. The ideas and projects we share here serve to shape the cultural architecture of the future. We believe that culture is the strongest bridge between nations, as it conveys the purest expression of the human spirit regardless of language, geography, or political framework."

Turkiye's Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism, Nadir Alpaslan, stated that his country is always ready to support the expansion of joint initiatives in the field of culture, the involvement of youth in creative environments, and the development of innovative and modern presentation formats of Islamic culture:

"For centuries, Islamic culture has permeated every layer of our lives – from architecture to music, literature to science. Today, through new technological environments, creative ecosystems, and global cultural integrations, it reaches wider audiences. We believe this festival will serve both to preserve our historical heritage and to enrich it within the framework of modern imagination.

Azerbaijan's leadership in cultural diplomacy and its contribution to forming regional solidarity are highly valued by both Turkiye and the entire Islamic world. We are confident that this cooperation will expand in the coming years with more projects and cultural exchange formats."

After the official opening ceremony of the OIC Culture Festival: Baku Creative Week – 2025, a conceptual visual composition based on Jalaluddin Rumi's saying "Come out of the circle of time and into the circle of Love" was presented to the audience.

The illustrative part of the project was based on the works of artist Leyla Aliyeva. The visual concept was authored by Honoured Artist and founder of "Atesh Hub" Sabina Shikhlinskaya, with musical arrangement by Orkhan Agayev (DJ Pancho).

The next part of the artistic program featured the Azerbaijani national dance "Yayliq", accompanied by Ibrahim Babayev (tar), Parviz Mammadov (piano), and Vefadar Ramiz (percussion).

The final artistic presentation of the ceremony was the composition "Shusha" by Azerbaijani composer Kubra Karimli, performed by singer Aisel (Aysel Mammadova) with the accompaniment of balaban player Fagan Alasgarli.

Afterwards, organizers and official guests visited the exhibition stands. The festival will continue until December 11.