ТASHKENT, February 25. /Dunyo IA/.  At the initiative of the Government of Uzbekistan, large-scale iftar gatherings for compatriots residing abroad are being organized during the holy month of Ramadan, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

This year, the programme will cover 10 countries and 50 cities worldwide, bringing together citizens of Uzbekistan who are working, studying and residing abroad.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, the events will be held in cities including Mecca and Medina, Seoul, Istanbul and Ankara, Cairo, Amman, Kuala Lumpur, Washington and New York City, Toronto, among others.

In the Russian Federation alone, iftar gatherings are scheduled in 20 cities, while in the United States they will take place in 10 cities, including 15 separate events planned across six of them.

The events are being organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan through Uzbekistan’s embassies and consulates, in cooperation with the Muslim Board of Uzbekistan and the Committee for Religious Affairs of Uzbekistan.

Meetings featuring prominent theologians and imams are dedicated to the humanistic values of Islam, strengthening national identity and providing spiritual support to compatriots residing abroad.

In addition to the official programme, supplementary iftar gatherings - organized with the participation of compatriot associations supporting the initiatives of the Government and the President of Uzbekistan will be held in Dallas, Philadelphia, Orlando, Washington, Mecca, Novosibirsk, Tomsk and Yekaterinburg.