Dr. Abdelillah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), took part in the third edition of the St. Petersburg International Religious Forum (SPIRF-25), held on Monday, 22 September 2025, in St. Petersburg, Russian Federation, under the theme: “Interreligious Cooperation for the Spiritual and Moral Development of Humanity in the Modern World.” The Forum gathered a distinguished group of religious, intellectual, and academic figures from around the globe.

During the plenary session, Dr. Benarafa delivered a keynote speech highlighting the importance of interreligious and intercultural dialogue in addressing global challenges, countering extremism and hate speech, and promoting the values of coexistence and peace.

Moreover, Dr. Benarafa outlined some of ICESCO’s leading initiatives in this field, including the organization of the International Virtual Forum on the “Role of Religious Leaderships in the Face of Crises” during the COVID-19 pandemic, the “International Conference on the Civilizational Values in the Prophet’s Seerah,” the publication of the “Encyclopedia on Deconstructing Extremist Discourse,” the launch of the “Leadership Training in Peace and Security (LTIPS),” as well as various training and research programs that foster intercultural and interreligious understanding.

In conclusion, Dr. Benarafa reaffirmed ICESCO’s commitment to building a global framework of solidarity that upholds peace and security and strengthens a culture of tolerance and creativity in service of humanity.

The Forum also featured discussions on a range of key issues, including interreligious cooperation and prospects for collaboration, the role of traditional spiritual and moral values as a foundation for interreligious solidarity, and the contribution of religious diplomacy to bridging peoples and fostering mutual understanding.