XIX Conference on Islamic Culture in Almonaster la Real

On October 11, 12, 13 and 14, the XIX Conference on Islamic Culture took place in Almonaster la Real, a beautiful and significant town in the Sierra de Aracena and Picos de Aroche, in Huelva.

The conference is a collaboration between the City Council of Almonaster, the Mosque Foundation of Seville and the Islamic Community in Spain with the intention of celebrating the Andalusian past of this town as well as distancing Islam from extremist clichés in a practical way, through coexistence, commerce and education.

These days have become a key date in the Huelva calendar, but their meaning goes further, not only because people from nearby provinces attend, but because what is celebrated is also part of the heritage of the Mediterranean, a place where historically there has been a meeting of different cultures and ways of life.

For this reason, the meaning of these days has gone beyond its location and now includes the entire Mediterranean, but also the entire Muslim world. Since the previous edition, the embassy of a Muslim-majority country has been invited to have a presence at these days and in this way expand the conception of Islam as a single culture and people and show that Islam is present in different places, from Indonesia to the United States, and that in each of them an indigenous culture and way of life emerges.

In this edition, the guest country has been Malaysia, who had a large presence during the Conference with an intervention and dance in the presentation and an information stand.

The days have passed normally and with a large influx of public between the souk, the conferences and recitals, the guided tours of the mosque, the XIV International Symposium, which this year has dealt with ‘The Arts of Islam: Dance, Cinema and Calligraphy’, and other workshops and activities that make up the program.

The activities of the Seville Mosque Foundation, in addition to participating in the general organization of the souk and other activities, participating in the different presentations and helping with diplomatic relations, focus on offering two conferences, one that has been given by Khalid Nieto, entitled ‘The distribution of wealth in Islam’ and another by Shaikh Ahmed Bermejo. entitled ‘Islam as a model of social behaviour’, a guided tour of the mosque, a poetry recital and an evening of dhikra that takes place in the historic mosque and is open to the public. In addition to this, the Seville Mosque Foundation has an institutional stand where you can find information and books on Islam.

From the Seville Mosque Foundation we want to thank all the people and institutions involved, especially the Almonaster City Council, who makes it possible to carry out these conferences year after year, the Malaysian embassy, whose presence has been significant, the Three Cultures of the Mediterranean Foundation and the Huelva Provincial Council.

We hope that these days have been full of moments of enjoyment and teaching for everyone and that we can continue to repeat this event year after year, God willing.