IIUI, Turkmenistan Expand Religious Education Ties
The International Islamic University Islamabad and Turkmenistan discussed deeper cooperation in religion and Arabic-language higher education.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Islam
Turkmen Ambassador Atadjan Movlamov and Yalkap Hojagulyyev, chief Imam of the Spiritual Mosque of Arkadag and former Mufti of Turkmenistan, met with IIUI President Prof. Dr. Ahmed Saad Alahmed to advance cooperation in religious and Arabic-language higher education.
Why it matters
The talks signal a push to strengthen educational and religious ties between Pakistan and Turkmenistan. The cooperation is expected to deepen academic exchange in Islamic studies across both countries.
No hard figures, enrollment numbers, or program specifications were included in the source extraction. The delegation's stated interest covers Usul-ud-Din, Shariah, and Arabic studies, but no quantitative measures were reported.
The players
International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI)
A public university in Islamabad, Pakistan, offering programs in Islamic sciences, Arabic, and related disciplines to students domestically and internationally.
Yalkap Hojagulyyev
A Turkmen religious leader who serves as chief Imam of the Spiritual Mosque of Arkadag, rector of the Higher Madrasa, and former Mufti of Turkmenistan.
The details
The Turkmen delegation, which included a high-powered team from the Ministry of Religious Affairs and an official from the Office of the Mufti of Turkmenistan, expressed a desire to cooperate with IIUI in Usul-ud-Din, Shariah, and Arabic. IIUI President offered Turkmen people the opportunity to benefit from the university's programmes, and the delegation later attended a presentation by Maj. Gen. (R) Dr. Ghulam Qamar, Director General of Religious Education.
Timeline
Article on the IIUI-Turkmenistan cooperation progress was published November 6, 2026.
Religious Education Exchange
The agreement extends IIUI's established role as a destination for international Islamic scholarship into Central Asia, where Turkmenistan's religious institutions have been rebuilding their Islamic higher education since the 1990s. Expanding Arabic-language and Shariah programs to Turkmen students follows the broader pattern of Pakistan-based Islamic universities drawing students from neighboring regions.
Prospective students in Turkmenistan and elsewhere who are interested in Usul-ud-Din, Shariah, or Arabic studies should watch for official IIUI announcements on enrollment terms and eligibility. No specific application dates or admission requirements were included in the source extraction.
The takeaway
Students and scholars interested in Islamic studies across Central Asia and South Asia should monitor IIUI's programme announcements as these cooperation talks develop. Early inquiries can help clarify eligibility and enrollment pathways.
Further reading
Explore more on Islam to see how Islamic higher education is shaping international scholarship.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Daily Times.
