Lima, Peru — Heads of the Islamic cultural centers in Latin America have called for activation of the cultural dialogue with the official and popular institutions in the region for improving the image of Islam and Muslims in the Latin American media.

At a meeting, which ended here today, the heads of the Islamic cultural centers assigned the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) to prepare comprehensive studies and reports on the Islamic cultural work in Latin America as well as recommend practical proposals and field projects in coordination with the Brazil-based Islamic Organization of Latin America.

They also assigned Eng. Mohammed Yousef Hajer, the Head of the Islamic organization of Latin America, to prepare a directory for the Muslim cadres in the region in coordination with the heads of the Islamic cultural centers and the Islamic societies in Latin America.

The heads of the Islamic cultural centers expressed appreciation for the Islamic declaration pertaining to cultural diversity, approved by the fourth conference of the Islamic Ministers of Culture, held in Algeria last December.

They also expressed appreciation for the program of refuting campaigns launched against Islam and the Islamic civilization, prepared by ISESCO.

The heads of the Islamic cultural centers began their meeting in Lima on Thursday under the chairmanship of Dr Abdulaziz Al-Tuweijiri, the Director General of ISESCO, with the participation of delegations from the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and the International European Islamic Council.