The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) participated in the Second International Religious Summit, held in Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation, under the theme “Religious, Spiritual and Moral Values in the Modern World.” The summit brought together prominent religious figures, leading scholars, and intellectuals from various countries around the world.

During the opening session, held on Thursday, 3 September 2026, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of ICESCO, stated in an address delivered on his behalf by Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General, that the summit provides an opportunity to examine the role of religious and spiritual values in light of the transformations taking place across the world, contributing to the promotion of global peace and security and the advancement of mutual understanding and prosperity.

Dr. AlMalik stressed that the modern world is experiencing a deep-rooted moral and structural crisis, contrary to modernist interpretations that characterize it as a temporary challenge. He noted that its underlying cause lies in distancing knowledge from its authentic sources and separating values from their higher spiritual reference framework.

The address concluded by emphasizing that science and knowledge cannot be separated from values and ethics and by calling on religious and international leaders and institutions to fulfill their intellectual and ethical responsibilities.

For his part, Ambassador Khalid Fathalrahman, Head of the Center for Civilizational Dialogue at ICESCO, participated in a panel discussion on the role of world religions in strengthening international security and addressing contemporary challenges. In his intervention, he affirmed that interfaith dialogue is no longer merely an intellectual option but has become a necessity for protecting societies from division, extremism, and hate speech.