A religious discussion programme for young Muslim women, #tilljannah, held in conjunction with the 2016 World Muslim Women Summit and Exhibition (WISE) at the Putra World Trade Centre here, has attracted about 500 participants.

Programme director Saiful Redza Mohamad said it discussed various issues concerning women of all ages brought up by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

"The three-day programme focused on empowering young Muslim women...and we saw that the response from young Muslim women was very encouraging," he told Bernama after the programme here on Friday.

Saiful Redza, who is also a senior counsellor at the International Islamic University of Malaysia (IIUM) said several female celebrities, including Mizz Nina, Fynn Jamal, and Diana Amir, would be featured in the second day of the programme today to discuss among other things, their spiritual awakening.

"On Sunday, we will hold the World Women Quran Hour as a continuation of the World Quran Hour event held in IIUM on Sept 10.

"We are carrying out this campaign on an ongoing basis. We want the momentum to continue and not become quiet after some time," he said.

WISE 2016 is organised by the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim) in collaboration with the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development, IIUM, OIC and the World Islamic Forum.

The three-day conference which began on Friday was officiated by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom.

It also includes various side programmes such as the Women and Peacebuilding conference, 'World Women and NGOs Meet', Women and Entrepreneurship Forum, International Islamic Culture Festival, as well exhibitions booths. -- BERNAMA