Workshop titled “The Role of Foundations in the Formation of Social and Economic Institutions in Balkan Countries” was held in Marmara University, Faculty of Theology

The workshop titled “The Role of Foundations in the Formation of Social and Economic Institutions in the Balkan Countries” was organized in cooperation with Marmara University, Islamic Economics and Finance Application and Research Center, Islamic Development Bank, Research and Education Institute (IRTI) and the General Directorate of Foundations, Kuwait.

The participants of the workshop which was held in MU Faculty of Theology Prof. Raşit Küçük Hall, were from the religious representatives of Balkan countries, researchers from Kuwait, Algeria, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia who have studies on the foundation. General Directorate of Foundations, Turkey also participated in the workshop and informed the participants especially about the opportunities that can be offered regarding the Turkish heritage of the foundations in the Balkans.

After the recitation of the Qur’an by Ishak Kızılarsan from MU Faculty of Theology, the workshop continued with the opening speeches delivered by the Rector of Marmara University Prof. Erol Özvar, the Director of Islamic Economics and Finance Application and Research Center Prof. Ertuğrul Boynukalın, the Projects Manager from General Directorate of Foundations, Kuwait Kewakeb el-Melhem, Prof. Abdullahi Muhammad from IRTI, the Manager of the Department of Culture and Registration Authority from General Directorate of Foundations Turkey Dr. Mevlüt Çam, and Istanbul Mufti Prof. Dr. M. Emin Maşalı. The Dean of MU Faculty of Theology Prof. Ali Köse was also among the attendees of the workshop.

Following the Rector of Marmara University Prof. Erol Özvar’s opening speech titled “The Role of Foundations in the Formation of Social and Economic Institutions”, other presentations about the Muslim world’s experiences regarding the foundations in the pre-modern period were delivered and proposals were made regarding the administrative and financial management of the foundations in the modern period.

In the first session of the first day, Prof. Nureddin al-Hâdimî, General Manager of Foundations in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dr. Senaid from Zaimovic and Dr. Mevlüt Çam from the General Directorate of Foundations Turkey delivered their presentations consisting general evaluations about foundations. In the second session, Prof. Tahsin Özcan from Marmara University and Mürsel Sarı from Istanbul Regional Directorate of Foundations made their speeches on administrative and financial management of foundations.

In the first session of the second day, Dr. Abdullahi Muhammed from IRTI and Dr. Abdulhalim Zaydan from Lebanon; In the second session, after Yusuf Ata al-Sevâdî from the Islamic Development Bank and Dr. Ilyas b. Hadda from the Algerian Trade University Elijah b. presenting their papers on the economic and social impacts of the foundations, Senaid Zaimovic gave information about the experiences related to the foundations in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

In the following sessions, the participants from the Balkan countries talked about their experience regarding foundations in their country. Croatian Deputy Mufti Arslani Mevludi, the President of the Serbian Islamic Union Sead Nasufovic, Serbian District Mufti Sena Halitovikj, Office of Islamic Meshihat, Montenegro Ömer Kajoshaj, Komotini Deputy Mufti Fehim Ahmet, Deputy Mufti of Xanthi Ahmet Hraloğlu, Deputy Mufti of Romania Ergun Refi, Slovenian Mufti Nejad Grabus, the Director of the Foundations of Slovenia Nevzat Poric, Tahir Zeynel Hasani from Albania, the Director of Macedonian Islamic Union of Foundations Driton Dikena, Islam Hasani and Vedat Sahiti from Kosovo and the Director of Foundations of Bulgarian Islamic Consultative Assembly Hasan Ibriyamov Yuseinov presented their papers about the experiences of their country regarding foundations. They have also made proposals regarding what needs to be done to strengthen the foundations financially in their countries.

The workshop ended with a concluding session in which a report consisting the results of the workshop were evaluated.