Abedin Siahat-Esfandiari, Iran’s Cultural Counselor in Sierra Leone, announced the news in an interview, stating that the international event is being organized by the Cultural Chancellery of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Sierra Leone in collaboration with the International Institute for Islamic Studies in Freetown. According to the program, participating thinkers will deliver speeches on topics including human rights in the Quran, countering extremism, the role of religion in consolidating social solidarity, respect for human diversity, and the civilizational capacities of the Quran for strengthening global peace.
He added that figures such as Sheikh Muadh Bah and Sheikh Ali Kallay from Sierra Leone, Dr. Yazan Ali from Syria, Dr. Syed Aun Naqvi and Dr. Syed Hedayat Rizvi from India, Dr. Tofig Asadov from the Republic of Azerbaijan, along with a group of thinkers and cultural officials from the Islamic Republic of Iran, will participate both in person and online.
Siahat-Esfandiari further noted that representing the Islamic Republic of Iran will be Javad Dehghan-Haghighi Lotfabadi, Ambassador, Abedin Siahat-Esfandiari, Cultural Counselor of the I.R. Iran in Sierra Leone, and Seyyed Hossein Shahcheragh, President of the International Institute for Islamic Studies.
On the eve of this international gathering, Iran’s Cultural Counselor in Sierra Leone highlighted the significance of human dignity in the contemporary world, stating: “Today, the world needs a reexamination of genuine human and ethical concepts more than ever. At a time when many societies face crises stemming from violence, discrimination, extremism, media warfare, and moral collapse, returning to fundamental concepts such as human dignity can create a platform for dialogue, understanding, and coexistence among nations.”
He added: “From the perspective of the Holy Quran, human dignity is not confined to ethnicity, race, religion, or geography; rather, man, as man, possesses divine status and honor. This outlook can serve as an important foundation for developing peace, social justice, and mutual respect in today’s world.”
Emphasizing the role of cultural diplomacy in strengthening ties between nations, the Cultural Counselor stated: “The Islamic Republic of Iran has consistently sought to utilize its cultural, Quranic, and scientific capacities to foster constructive interactions among nations. Holding such international conferences is part of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s cultural and Quranic diplomacy, aimed at creating a scientific, ethical, and humanitarian space among thinkers from various countries.”
He also pointed to Sierra Leone’s position as a nation with high capacity for dialogue and cultural interaction, stating: “Sierra Leone possesses a diverse, religious, and cultural society, offering valuable potential for interfaith dialogue and scientific-cultural cooperation. We believe that scientific and cultural collaboration between Iran and African nations can pave the way for deeper mutual understanding among peoples and the development of humanitarian and cultural cooperation.”
Siahat-Esfandiari further emphasized: “One of the objectives of this event is to present a genuine, rational, and humane image of Islamic and Quranic teachings—an image that underscores respect for humanity, justice, ethics, rationality, and coexistence, and can play a role in countering extremist currents and Islamophobia.”
He concluded: “Holding this international conference is not merely an academic program; it is an effort to expand the literature of human dignity within Africa’s cultural and academic sphere and to strengthen connections among religious and academic elites from various countries.”
The international conference was scheduled for Friday, corresponding to May 22, 2026, at 4:00 PM Freetown time at the International Institute for Islamic Studies, located on Wilkinson Road, Freetown. Attendance is open to researchers, academics, cultural activists, and all those interested.
