RIYADH — The 34th International “Virtual” Conference for Muslims of Latin America and the Caribbean, organized by the Islamic Call Center in Brazil, in cooperation with the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance, themed "Waqf and its Role in Serving Muslim Communities”, kicked off Monday in Brazil and will last for two days. The conference, whose agenda include discussing the endowment (Waqf) and its role in serving Muslim communities in Latin America and the Caribbean, is being held with the participation of scholars, academics, and science students from various countries. The conference activities started with a visual presentation of the conference’s progress, followed by a speech by Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif Bin Abdulaziz Al Al-Sheikh, minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance, in which he thanked the Brazilian government for hosting the event, which reflects its great interest in all minorities living on its land. Al Al-Sheikh stressed the keenness of the Saudi leadership to care for Muslims’ affairs everywhere, especially in areas where an Islamic minority is formed, adding this Islam is a religion of mercy, tolerance and supports and cares of endowments to ensure its sustainability and achieve its objectives. He said that caring for the endowment is an embodiment of all forms of social solidarity, and achievement of harmony, cooperation, compassion, and peace, hoping that the conference will achieve its great goals in reviving the endowment practice by defining the appropriate concept of endowment and its importance for Muslim minorities. — SPA