The Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in Kuala Lumpur Participates in a Cultural Event on Strengthening Cultural Bridges between Iran and Malaysia

The Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in Kuala Lumpur, represented by the Chargé d’Affaires a.i., Counselor Ahmed Ghanim AbdulJabbar, participated in the cultural and academic event organized by the Iranian Cultural Center in Malaysia on 10 November 2025, under the title: “Cultural Bridges between the Islamic Republic of Iran and Malaysia: Mawlana Jalaluddin Rumi as a Case Study.”

The event was organized in coordination with the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran and in cooperation with the Malaysian Academia Studies Center at the University of Malaya, as part of efforts to promote cultural dialogue and strengthen intellectual and humanitarian exchange among nations.

The event witnessed distinguished diplomatic and academic attendance, including Mr. Ibrahim Saeedi, First Counselor at the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran; Mr. Najmiddin Muhammad, representative of the Embassy of Tajikistan; and Dr. Habib Razi Arzani, Iranian Cultural Counselor and Director of the Iranian Cultural Center, in addition to a number of professors, academics, and students from various Malaysian universities. Among them were Associate Professor Dr. Sabzali Musa Khan, Dean of the Malaysian Studies Center at the University of Malaya, and Professor Dr. Ahmad Murad Merican, Director of the Center for Malaysian–Islamic Civilization Studies.

The event commenced with welcome remarks delivered by Dr. Sabzali Musa Khan, in which he expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the participating and organizing entities. He emphasized the importance of this gathering in strengthening cultural and intellectual channels of dialogue and communication between Iran and Malaysia and shedding light on the profound human legacy of the philosopher and poet Jalaluddin Rumi, whose writings advocate the values of tolerance, love, and spiritual elevation, making his thought a bridge for dialogue between East and West.

For his part, Professor Dr. Ahmad Murad Merican highlighted key intellectual milestones in Rumi’s life, referring to his academic experience in authoring and translating a comprehensive work on Rumi’s philosophy into the Malay language as a cultural project aimed at promoting human awareness and highlighting shared values among nations. He affirmed that Rumi’s literary legacy represents one of the most significant sources of global human thought for its principles of tolerance, spiritual purity, and human unity.

Dr. Habib Razi Arzani, Iranian Cultural Counselor and Director of the Iranian Cultural Center, also addressed Rumi’s intellectual and spiritual biography, discussing his life journey from his birth in Afghanistan and his movement across regions, up to his global status as a symbol of universal Sufi thought. He stressed that Rumi’s philosophy is founded upon compassion, mercy, love, and harmony among human beings—values that continue to serve as a solid basis for cultural convergence and mutual understanding in today’s world.

At the conclusion of the event, participants expressed their appreciation for such cultural initiatives, which contribute to deepening human dialogue and enhancing academic and cultural engagement among nations.