More than 30 Muslim and Jewish leaders from 20 countries gathered in Slovenia to discuss the protection and promotion of religious minority rights in Europe. Members of the Council visited today Zoran Janković, Mayor of Ljubljana, to talk about the importance of religious minorities being able to practice their faiths freely.The Council is a leading voice for interfaith dialogue in the continent. Chief Imam of Islamic Centre Ireland, Shaykh Dr. Umar Al-Qadri, is among the Muslim leaders in this Council.

MJLC members also visited the first Mosque in Slovenia. Together with local religious leaders, the Council embraces opportunities for religious minorities in Europe to practice their right to worship.

In February 2020, Slovenia, a predominantly Catholic country, opened its first mosque, the Islamic Religious and Cultural Center in its capital, Ljubljana. Muslims make up 2.4% of the country’s population and constitute the second largest religious group.

After the MJLC Assembly, EuLEMa meeting took place in the Islamic Centre of Ljubljana. In this meeting the Chief Imam of Islamic Centre of Ireland, Shaykh Dr. Umar Al-Qadri, who is also a member of the steering committee of EuLeMa, gave a presentation on his ongoing research on “The response to the Pandemic among European Muslim communities” which was highly appreciated by all participants.