International Gathering: Panel and 4th Ordinary General Assembly Held in Istanbul

The International Union of Braille Quran Services (IBQS) brought together its members from different parts of the world during the panel and general assembly program held in Istanbul on 28–29 July 2025. The program began with a welcome dinner at Cemile Sultan Grove, where our guests had the opportunity to meet and exchange ideas in a warm atmosphere.

On 28 July 2025 a panel titled "Disability Through the Perspective of Wisdom" was held. Aiming to offer a different perspective on disability, the panel addressed its past, present and future. Individual and institutional members from Malaysia, Iran, Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, Niger, Togo, the United States, Somalia, Syria and Yemen took part, and simultaneous translation from Turkish to English was provided for international guests.

The panel featured Prof. Dr. Ekrem Demirli, Chair of the Department of Sufism at Istanbul University Faculty of Theology, with "The Wisdom of Disability"; Lokman Ayva, President of the Turkish Beyazay Association and former Member of Parliament for Istanbul, with "The Historical Course of Disability"; and Dr. Selahattin Aydın, faculty member at Kent University, with "The Relationship Between the Quran and Persons with Disabilities". The panel was moderated by Ayşegül Yıldırım Kara, Director General of Child Services at the Ministry of Family and Social Services.

Dr. Yasin Akar, Director General of Services for Persons with Disabilities and the Elderly at the Ministry of Family and Social Services, and Dr. Fatih Ümit Çetin, Advisor to the Minister, also attended. Representatives of institutions including the Presidency's Directorate of Communications, the Istanbul Provincial Mufti's Office, the Provincial Directorate of National Education, Medipol University, the University of Health Sciences and Uşak University, as well as civil society organizations led by KADEM and the Beyazay Association, took part in the panel. The panel was hosted at the Üsküdar facilities of the State Hydraulic Works with the support of the General Directorate of State Hydraulic Works under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

Following the panel, the 4th Ordinary General Assembly of the Union was held at the same venue on 29 July 2025. The Union, which brings together organizations that provide Braille Qurans and Braille Quran training to visually impaired Muslims, welcomed individual and institutional members from Malaysia, Iran, Palestine, Jordan, Somalia, Egypt, Niger, Togo, Yemen and the United States.

Chaired by the founding president Selahattin Aydın, the General Assembly reviewed past activities and discussed future plans. As a result of the election, Halis Kuralay was re-elected President, renewing the confidence of the members. The elected Board of Directors will serve until 2028. A workshop held after the General Assembly discussed the Union's fields of activity and future projects in detail.

Within the framework of the program, our volunteers also organized a tour of Istanbul's historical and cultural sites for the international guests. Hagia Sophia, Sultanahmet Square and the Grand Bazaar were visited, and a Bosphorus cruise was enjoyed.