Istanbul – December 2025
At a time of growing challenges facing student and youth movements, as well as the wider Ummah, the IIFSO Arab Region Meeting was held in Istanbul from 15 to 17 December 2025. The meeting aimed to revisit fundamental questions about the role of youth, students, and their representatives in understanding current realities and working to shape meaningful change.
The opening session set the overall tone for the meeting, providing a framework for the discussions that followed. The speakers emphasized the central role of youth and students as key drivers of any genuine process of transformation.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Abdullah Ahmed, Head of the Arab Region at IIFSO, stressed that the meeting was taking place at a critical moment that demands heightened awareness and boldness in both thought and action. He explained that the meeting’s slogan—“Participation • Effectiveness • Impact”—captures the essence of IIFSO’s long experience and reflects the urgent need to strengthen cooperation among student and youth organizations.
He noted that participation is the foundation for building a connected Arab student network around shared causes, while effectiveness lies in turning youthful energy into practical initiatives that engage with academic and social realities. Impact, he added, remains the ultimate measure of success for any student experience—a principle IIFSO has sought to uphold throughout its history.
Dr. Ömer Faruk Korkmaz, former Secretary-General of IIFSO, highlighted the historical depth of the organization’s experience, describing IIFSO as an intellectual and leadership school that has shaped generations of students worldwide. He emphasized that the federation’s independence from political polarization has been central to its continuity, calling for renewed commitment to its core values, including unity, da‘wah, and hope.
Focusing on the ethical dimension of student activism, Dr. Abdulvahap Akıncı, Head of the Turkish Branch of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, and Director of the Islamic Scholars Endowment, underscored the importance of engaging with reality in a conscious and balanced manner, without becoming constrained by it. He described IIFSO as an inclusive platform for nurturing youth awareness and channeling their energies, stressing that unity is built not through uniformity of views, but through unity of hearts—especially in a phase that requires strong moral and intellectual cohesion.
For his part, Dr. Rafik Abdessalem, former Tunisian Minister of Foreign Affairs, placed the meeting within the context of rapid global transformations. He noted that the world is witnessing a reshaping of the international order, with major powers forming new strategic blocs, while the Arab world continues to face uncertainty and fragmentation. Despite these challenges, he argued, the current moment still offers real opportunities for change, emphasizing that meaningful investment must focus on youth and students as the primary drivers of the future.
Through these contributions, the opening session outlined the broader direction of the IIFSO Arab Region Meeting 2025, reaffirming that transforming awareness into tangible impact remains the most pressing challenge for youth in the period ahead.
