H.E. Professor Koutoub Moustapha Sano, Secretary General of the Academy, received in his office at the Academy in Jeddah, on Monday 9 Sha’aban 1442, corresponding to 22 March 2021, H.E. Mr. Ulu Gabbek Maksudov, Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Permanent Representative of his country to the OIC. The Ambassador was accompanied by H.E. Dr. Ismatullah Fayd al-Layyouf, First Counselor at the Embassy, who both came to greet His Excellency, and to review the aspects of cooperation between the Academy and the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Ambassador Maksudov opened his speech by congratulating His Excellency on his assumption of office, expressing on this occasion the willingness of the religious institutions and centers of Uzbekistan to strengthen the cooperation relations with the International Islamic Fiqh Academy, noting in this regard the strong interest that the current President of Uzbekistan attaches to cooperation with the OIC and its subsidiary organs, in particular the International Islamic Fiqh Academy of as the first jurisprudential reference for the Muslim world and Muslim communities. His Excellency also expressed the wish of the Directorate of Muslims in Uzbekistan, headed by His Eminence, the Grand Mufti of the Republic of Uzbekistan, to sign a cooperation agreement with the Academy.

For his part, the Secretary General of the Academy greeted the ambassador and thanked him for his visit. He then assured him of the Academy’s full readiness to cooperate with scientific institutions and centers in Uzbekistan, praising the distinguished efforts of His Eminence Grand Mufti Sheikh Osman Khan Alimov to strengthen cooperation and communication with the Academy. His Excellency also confirmed that the Academy has approved the draft cooperation agreement with the Directorate of Muslims in Uzbekistan.

Furthermore, H.E. Ambassador Maksudov informed that his country is about to celebrate the inauguration of two Islamic centers in Tashkent and Samarkand, and on this occasion, the Uzbek government is honored to send an official invitation to the Secretary General of the Academy to participate in the inauguration events. He also informed that the Government of Uzbekistan would also like to consider hosting a future session of the Academy in conjunction with the celebration of the opening of the two Islamic centers. In addition, the government is inquiring about the possibility of organizing a workshop for imams and persons in charge of Islamic affairs in Uzbekistan.

His Excellency responded positively to the invitation to attend the inauguration of the two Islamic centers and assured the hospitality of the Secretariat General for the Republic of Uzbekistan to host a future session of the Academy. His Excellency reiterated the willingness of the Academy to organize a training course for officials of Islamic affairs in cooperation with the Office of H.E. the Grand Mufti of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Mr. Ayman Abdelkarim, Mr. Murad Al-Talili and Mrs. Sarah Amjad Hussain attended the meeting.