Al-Khoei Institute was pleased to participate in the 2026 Steering Committee Meeting of the Interreligious Platform for Dialogue and Cooperation in the Arab World, convened by @KAICIID in Rome.
The Institute was represented by Dr Zaid Bahr al-Uloom, Director of Al-Balaghi Centre, joining religious leaders from across the region to advance dialogue, peaceful coexistence, and practical cooperation.
Necef programımız kapsamında, bölgenin köklü akademik ve kültürel merkezlerinden Khoi Enstitüsü’nü ziyaret ettik.
Görüşmede Enstitü Başkanı Sayın Dr. Cevat Khoi ve Belagat Bölümü Müdürü Sayın Dr. Zeyd Bahrululum ile bir araya gelerek, enstitünün İslam dünyasındaki ilmi mirası koruma, akademik araştırma ve lisansüstü eğitim faaliyetleri hakkında detaylı bilgi aldık. Bölgesel akademik iş birliği imkanlarını ve ortak ilmi projeleri değerlendirdik.
Nazik ev sahiplikleri ve misafirperverlikleri için Dr. Cevat Khoi ve Dr. Zeyd Bahrululum’a teşekkür ederiz.
We were pleased to visit the Apostolic Nunciature in Baghdad today, where we met with H.E. Archbishop Mirosław Stanisław Wachowski, Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See to Iraq, reaffirming our shared commitment to dialogue, mutual understanding, and the promotion of peace.
We also had the privilege of visiting His Beatitude Cardinal Louis Raphaël Sako, expressing our deep appreciation for his years of dedicated service to Iraq and his enduring contributions to interfaith harmony, national unity, and the moral voice of the nation.
@VaticanNews
#Iraq #InterfaithDialogue #ReligiousDiplomacy #PeaceBuilding #Iraq #Najaf #chaldean
We were pleased to meet with a number of distinguished scholars and religious leaders in Baghdad, including engagements with the Iraqi Fiqh Council (@alfiqhiiq) at the historic Abu Hanifa Mosque, and the Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq (@amsiiraq ).
Our discussions focused on strengthening social harmony, deepening mutual understanding, and advancing a culture of dialogue that serves the unity, stability, and shared future of Iraqi society.
📢 Official Statement
Al-Khoei Institute – Najaf al-Ashraf
“Indeed, in this is a reminder for whoever possesses a perceptive heart, or listens attentively while fully present.”
(The Qur’an, Sūrat Qāf 50:37)
Proceeding from its religious and moral responsibility, and out of its commitment to clarity of vision and the safeguarding of the broader Islamic consciousness, Al-Khoei Institute affirms that Al-Azhar al-Sharif, throughout its long and enduring history, has remained a foundational pillar of collective Islamic endeavor and a bearer of historic positions in service of the causes of the Muslim Ummah and the preservation of its religious fabric. This has been upheld through its adherence to moderation and its firm, independent scholarly tradition, as evidenced by the legacy of its leading scholars, foremost among them the Grand Imam, Ahmad al-Tayyib.
In this context, the history of the Najaf Seminary offers a living testament to the depth of mutual respect among Islamic schools of thought and to the continued effort to strengthen shared foundations under the banner of Islam. This approach has been shaped by reason, wisdom, and ethical conduct, and has been reaffirmed by our Supreme Religious Authority, represented by His Eminence the Supreme Marjaʿ, Imam Ali al-Sistani, as a safeguard for preserving the unity of the Ummah while respecting its diversity.
The Al-Khoei Institute further notes that the relationship between Najaf and Al-Azhar, whose histories extend over a thousand years, has always been founded upon scholarly engagement and respect for distinct traditions. This places upon all concerned a shared respitsonsibility to protect this path. The positions issued by the institutions of the Seminary and al-Azhar reflect wisdom and foresight regarding the future of relations among Muslims, and it is entirely inappropriate to frame them in sectarian terms or to attempt to exploit them on a doctrinal basis.
The Al-Khoei Institute in Najaf al-Ashraf emphasizes that the Seminary is represented solely by its senior religious authorities, foremost among them its Supreme Marjaʿiyya, as they alone articulate its authentic vision. Not everyone who dons the Seminary’s attire, ascends a pulpit, or issues a statement may be considered a spokesperson for it. In this regard, adherence to the wise and established approaches of both al-Azhar and the Najaf Seminary remains the only means of protecting society from impulsive, individual discourse that reflects neither institution nor their principles.
In conclusion, the unity of Muslims can only be preserved through firm commitment to the shared, elevated principles of Islam. Any portrayal that confines relations among Muslim institutions within a narrow sectarian framework reflects a limited understanding and does not represent the spirit of Najaf al-Ashraf or its Seminary throughout their history.
And God is the ultimate guide to the intended purpose.
Al-Khoei Institute
17/01/2026
Dr Zaid Bahraluloom, director of Al-Balaghi Centre and a KAICIID Fellow, attended the 10th-anniversary celebration of the KAICIID Fellowship Programme in Lisbon. @kaiciidar@KAICIID@zaidnajafi2004
Dr Zaid Bahr Al-Uloom, Director of Al-Balaghi Centre (Al-Khoei Institute), took part in the Vatican’s celebration marking the 60th Anniversary of Nostra Aetate—a milestone in interreligious dialogue.
Held by the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue in the presence of Pope Leo XIV, the event renewed calls for fraternity, hope, and peace among faiths.
#NostraAetate60 #InterfaithDialogue #Vatican
@VaticanNews@santegidionews
Dr. Zaid Bahrululoom, Head of Al-Balaghi Centre at Al-Khoei Institute, spoke today at the International Meeting for Peace 2025 in Rome, organised by the Community of Sant’Egidio, during the forum “Remembering Pope Francis.”
A moment of shared reflection on the enduring legacy of the late Pope — a symbol of peace, compassion, and interreligious dialogue.
@santegidionews
A delegation from Al-Khoei Institute met with representatives from @kaiciidar in Erbil, discussing ways to enhance joint initiatives and strengthen dialogue between religious and academic institutions.
The meeting focused on promoting mutual understanding and interfaith cooperation across Iraq and the wider region. @KAICIID
Head of Al-Balaghi Centre, Dr. Zaid Bahr al-Uloom @zaidnajafi2004, attended and spoke at the Sunni Endowment’s @SunniaffairsIq event at the Maʿrūf al-Karkhī shrine in Baghdad, commemorating the blessed birth of the Beloved Prophet (pbuh).
Al-Khoei Institute in Najaf was pleased to visit Cardinal Raphaël Sako, Patriarch of the Chaldean Catholic Church, in Baghdad.
Together, we affirmed our shared commitment to interfaith dialogue, peaceful coexistence, and protecting the rich diversity of Iraq.
#Peace#Unity#Iraq
https://t.co/AIC7k6OX5C
At the IPU Interfaith Conference: “Restoring Trust and Embracing Hope for Our Shared Future”
His Eminence Sayed Jawad Al-Khoei delivered a powerful message:
“We must all work—with all the strength we have—to promote and protect human dignity everywhere. Human dignity is not only an individual right — it is also the foundation of peaceful coexistence and societal stability.”
#IPU2025 #Peace #Humanity
@IPUparliament
Today at the Inter-Parliamentary Union conference on Interfaith Dialogue in Rome, Italy.
Secretary General of Al-Khoei Institute, his Eminence Sayed Jawad Al-Khoei, met with the Secretary General of the IPU, Mr. Martin Chungong. @IPUparliament@MartinChungong#interfaith #peace
Al-Khoei Institute participated in the 2025 IPDC Steering Committee Meeting held in Amman, Jordan.
The gathering brought together religious figures from across the Arab world to strengthen dialogue, promote coexistence, and address pressing challenges within the region.
@KAICIID #IPDC2025 #InterfaithDialogue #Peacebuilding #ReligiousDialogue
A delegation from Al-Khoei Institute in Najaf, visited the Embassy of the Holy See in Baghdad to offer condolences on the passing of His Holiness @Pontifex Pope Francis, honouring his legacy of peace and dialogue. @VaticanNews#Najaf#Pope#Vatican#Peace
With deep sorrow and a heavy heart, Al-Khoei Institute in Najaf extends its sincerest condolences to the Catholic Church, its leadership, and all its followers around the world on the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis.
A man of humility, integrity, and profound spiritual devotion, he was a true humanitarian and a courageous voice for justice and compassion. He dedicated his life to serving the poor, the vulnerable, and the forgotten. His unwavering commitment to peace and interfaith dialogue left an indelible mark on our world.
At Al-Khoei Institute, we remember him not only as the Head of the Catholic Church, but as a true friend and partner in our shared mission to promote coexistence and mutual understanding.
His historic and heartfelt visit to the holy city of Najaf in 2021—where he met with His Eminence Grand Ayatollah Al-Sayyid Ali Al-Sistani—will forever be etched in the memory of future generations. It was a moment that symbolised hope, humility, and the potential for unity across religious traditions.
We honour the legacy of Pope Francis and thank him for the bridges he built and the humanity he embodied.
May God grant him peace and grant solace to all those who mourn his loss.
@Pontifex@VaticanNews@santegidionews #PopeFrancis
Engaging minds. Shaping futures.
Al-Balaghi Centre hosted a high-level dialogue, bringing together Iraqi academics, public intellectuals, and media professionals for a rich post-Iftar exchange.
His Eminence Sayyid Jawad Al-Khoei spoke on the importance of societal organisation and the elite’s responsibility in guiding reform. Guests offered strategic insights from across disciplines, affirming Al-Balaghi Centre's role as a platform for elite, transformative discourse.
Honoring the Martyrs of the Islamic Seminary
Al-Khoei Institute hosted the Shuhada Foundation in a commemorative seminar to remember the martyrs of the holy seminary in Najaf.
The event served as a vital reminder of their sacrifice and legacy. @alshuhadaamedia
لقاءُ الرحاب الطاهرة والقبلة الجامعة، لقاء البرامج العملية للائتلاف الإسلامي:
مؤتمر #بناء_الجسور_بين_المذاهب الإسلامية، برعايةٍ كريمةٍ من لدن #خادم_الحرمين_الشريفين -حفظه الله وأجزل مثوبته-. تابِعْ:
The second address was delivered by Ambrogio Spreafico, who spoke about the prophethood of Abraham.
He emphasized three key aspects of Abraham’s journey:
- Separation and Return – Abraham withdrew from society, only to return with an even greater capacity to serve and guide others.
- Unwavering Faith – Throughout his trials, he remained steadfast in his trust in God, never wavering despite immense difficulties.
- A Message for All – When he descended from the mountain, he brought commandments that provided a path for people of all backgrounds to peacefully coexist.
This is why we call him the father of the Abrahamic faiths—he introduced a way of life that fostered harmony among all.
He did not bring division but a new system that enabled humanity to live together in mutual respect.
Today, in a world plagued by war and conflict, we must look to Abraham’s example and seek new ways to navigate our challenges, striving for a future built on peace and understanding.