At interfaith leaders' conference in Kazakhstan: Protest following mention of October 7

At an interfaith conference in Kazakhstan, Israel's representative David Anatebi mentioned the October 7 massacre, sparking protests from Iranian and Turkish delegates. Discussions continued as planned.

Religious representatives from around the world gathered last week in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, for an international interfaith conference. Participants included delegates from the Vatican, the Anglican Church, and the Russian Church, alongside delegations from Iran, China, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and the Baha'i community. Senior Kazakh officials attended, including the vice president, the culture minister, his deputy, and the deputy foreign minister. Topics on the agenda included the dangers of global warming, challenges in artificial intelligence, and the moral obligation to provide care for terminally ill patients. During his speech, Israel's representative David Anatebi raised the events of the October 7 massacre, sparking protests from Iranian and Turkish delegates. Despite the protest, the hosts and participants maintained order and discussions continued as planned. The conference concluded with an emphasis on the importance of continued interfaith dialogue.