French ambassador to Iran,  Philippe Thiebaud, met with Hojjat al-Islam Seyyed Abolhasan Navvab, the president of the University of Religions and Dominations (URD), at the university on Saturday, October 5, 2019, according to the university’s public relations.

Hojjat al-Islam Seyyed Abolhasan Navvab pointed out that the relations of the URD with France are very close. He then added: “We are completely ready to continue our collaborations. We have close relations with France. One of our faculty members is at Sorbonne University completing his studies. We always host French cardinals at the URD. I also have had talks with French universities and these collaborations will continue. We have very good friends at French academic centers. Iranian – French cultural ties are broad and we do not feel homesick in France”. The French ambassador also expressed his satisfaction for visiting the URD, mentioning that Hojjat al-Islam Navvab is one of the most influential people in the dialogue between religions, and said: “The dialogue between religions and between Iran and France is very respectable and admirable. However more important is the dialogue between civilizations in order to achieve an understanding between religions”.

The French ambassador also expressed willingness to develop the relations of the French Universities with the URD in exchanging professors, students and holding joint courses, and said:

“Islam is the second religion in Europe and has many followers there. In France, the Protestants and the Jews are considered minorities compared to Muslim population. The Muslim community of France is highly diverse. Some of them are from the north of Africa and some from the south of Africa. The people who come from the north of Africa have a great tendency to Sufism; and some of them are also Shiites, mostly coming from Senegal and Mali.