On Sunday 8th Sha’aban 1442, corresponding to 21 March 2021, the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding was held between the International Islamic Fiqh Academy and the Regional Representation of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in the Gulf Cooperation Council. The Academy was represented by H.E. Prof. Koutoub Moustapha Sano, Secretary General of the Academy, and the Regional Representation of the UNHCR was represented by H.E. Mr. Khaled Khalifa, the Representative of the UNHCR for the Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Advisor to the High Commissioner for Islamic Finance.

The signing ceremony started with a welcome address by Dr. Mamoun Mohsen, who explained that this memorandum represents the fruit of a humanitarian cooperation between the International Academy of Islamic Fiqh as the leading jurisprudential authority for Muslim countries and communities, and as the Shariah arm of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on the one hand, and UNHCR’s religious reference on the other. He also indicated that this cooperation agreement aims at providing humanitarian assistance and building a better future for millions of people who have been forced to flee their homes, as well as for displaced and stateless people, stressing in this regard that the UNHCR is working hard to strengthen its relations with the Academy in order to benefit from all that has been issued in its resolutions and recommendations regarding refugees and displaced people.

For his part, H.E. Mr. Khalid Khalifa expressed his thanks to H.E. the Secretary General and the participants. He maintained that this occasion represents a turning point in the history of the partnership between the Academy and the UNHCR, and that it will be – In Sha Allah – the starting point of a wider cooperation in the service of refugees and displaced persons in the world.

For his part, H.E. Professor Koutoub Sano also expressed his enormous pleasure on this occasion, noting the importance of providing the necessary intellectual and religious support to the UNHCR, in recognition of its noble work and efforts to save millions of displaced persons and refugees living in difficult conditions. His Excellency also expressed the full willingness of the Academy to consolidate and strengthen the cooperative relationship between the Academy and the Office of the High Commissioner in order to turn this relationship into a tangible reality that can be measured and evaluated at the end of each year, stressing the effort of the Academy, through its conferences and seminars, to invite States and peoples to work together to provide a decent minimum life for the human being, as it is a creature whom Allah has honored and deserves to live a happy and dignified life.

His Excellency reiterated that the issue of refugees and displaced persons is first and foremost a humanitarian issue, which necessitates calling upon well-doers around the world to donate part of their Zakat and charities to the activities and programs of the High Commissioner in order to save millions of people who live in tough conditions and do not enjoy the most basic human rights.

His Excellency expressed his wish that the last day would come when we will celebrate a world without refugees and displaced persons, which are the victims of devastating wars. He reaffirmed the willingness of the Academy to issue fatwas and resolutions and to organize conferences and seminars in support of the laudable efforts of the UNHCR. His Excellency concluded his speech by thanking all the participants and wishing the High Commissioner success in all its activities and programs. At the end, the Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the two parties.