The celebration of such an important date was marked by a conference at the Gulbenkian, that brought together experts who spoke about the importance and the contributions of this law to the Portuguese society. This event also gathered the various members of the religious freedom commission and the representatives of the various religious denominations, namely those that constitute the Interreligious Dialogue Working Group of the High Commission for Migration (GTDIR ACM) – a public institution that works for the integration of immigrants in the national territory.

It may be stated that in Portugal, there is a clear sign of interest in the religious phenomenon, recognizing the important role that it can play in terms of social cohesion. A prime example of this reality is the law on religious freedom of 2001, considered to be a progressive law by many national and international specialists, which gives a scope of legality, freedom and dignity to the religious phenomenon in its multiple forms. It is under this law that religious communities are granted fundamental rights for the believers, that impact their lives. This law ensures that people can be free to choose or change their faith, that they can provide religious education to the younger generations of their communities, receive of disseminate religious information, meet to partake in ceremonies and to practice their faith. The law on religious freedom protects not only individuals, but also the religious organizations around which communities of believers are organised.

This law has also established the Religious Freedom Commission, which has a fundamental role in all matters related to the application of this Law, and to which the Shia Ismaili Muslim community is a part of. Other relevant examples of the state's interest in the religious phenomenon are namely the creation of the National Day of Religious Freedom and Interreligious Dialogue (on 22nd June) and the Interreligious Dialogue Working Group, in which the Ismaili community also participates. The Interreligious Dialogue Working Group, constituted in 2015 aims at promoting greater awareness of the various religious communities that reside in Portugal and to promote the acknowledgement and appreciation of the cultural and religious diversity in the Portuguese society.

Mawlana Hazar Imam has said the following about the law for religious freedom in Portugal, at the inauguration of the Ismaili Centre in Lisbon, on the 11th July 1998:

“In this connection, I would like to compliment the Government of Portugal on the Law of Religious Freedom currently being discussed in the country. It is a pioneering and forward-looking undertaking that will encourage a new era of religious freedom, respect, and equality for over 60 different religious communities in the country, while maintaining the historic role of the Catholic Church. The draft Law on Religious Freedom can serve as a model for the rest of the European Community, where populations have grown more ethnically and religiously diverse in the past three to four decades.

In a more immediate sense, I believe that the proposed law will provide a basis for a greater cooperation between faith communities in Portugal along the lines envisaged in The World Bank's Interfaith Dialogue. If experience elsewhere is a guide, we can expect the release of much energy and creativity, and the Government and people of Portugal should be assured that the Ismaili Centre of Lisbon, and all those it represents – the Ismaili community world-wide, and the agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network – will devote their energies to making Portugal's leadership in this creative and uniquely exciting initiative the success it must be. Social harmony coupled with the freedom and respect of religious expression is a prerequisite for all human progress”.

Still in celebration of this historic date the High Commission for Migration published a document with the testimonies of the various religious denominations that constitute the Inter-religious Dialogue Working Group, regarding the inter-religious dialogue in Portugal for the last 20 years that can be read here.