H.E. Mr. Ryan Gliha, Consul General and Special Envoy of the United States of America to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, accompanied by H.E. Mrs. Kholoud Kandil, Deputy Director of the Political and Economic Department of the Consulate, paid a courtesy visit to H.E. Prof. Koutoub Moustapha Sano, Secretary General of the Academy, on Thursday 21 Dhul al-Quidah 1442 corresponding to 1 July 2021, at the Academy’s headquarters in Jeddah.

H.E. Mr. Ryan expressed his sincere thanks and gratitude to the Secretary General of the Academy for hosting him and his companion Mrs. Kholoud Kandil, noting in this regard that this visit could be his last to the Secretariat General of the Academy, given the end of his official term as US Consul General of the United States in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and as special envoy to the OIC. The Consul General came to bid farewell to the Secretary General and to express his appreciation and admiration for the remarkable changes and developments in the Secretariat General of the Academy, at the administrative, scientific, and intellectual levels, since His Excellency took office a few months ago. He also expressed his content with the role played by the Academy in the fight against extremist ideologies, terrorism, renunciation of violence and fanaticism, praising in this regard what he heard directly from the Secretary General as a clear and frank scientific position against many harmful practices against women in some societies, such as genital mutilation and child marriage.

The Consul General then took the opportunity to express his aspiration to strengthen the cooperation and communication relations between the General Secretariat of the Academy and the United States through the next Consul General and Special Envoy who will arrive in Jeddah in early August. He concluded his speech by wishing His Excellency and the Academy success in carrying out the promising activities and programs contained in its strategic plan.

For his part, the Secretary General of the Academy greeted His Excellency and his companion and thanked them for this visit which shows the appreciation of the Consul General and the American diplomatic mission towards the Academy. He also confirmed the sincere desire to strengthen the cooperation and communication between the General Secretariat of the Academy and the United States of America. His Excellency praised the great concern to strengthen the cooperation and communication between the Academy and the American institutions concerned with the topics and issues covered by the Academy through its resolutions and seminars. His Excellency expressed his regret to see the Consul General leave at this time, after having left a good trace and a beautiful memory to all those who have been close to him, wishing him full success in his new missions in the United States. He also assured of his happiness that both parties progress in their missions, especially in the fight against extremism, terrorism, and violence, as well as the correction of preconceived ideas around many issues related to women such as defamation, exclusion, and psychological and physical abuse. The Academy has already issued resolutions on these issues and topics, condemning, and denouncing all forms of violence and abuse committed in the name of Islam, stressing the fact that Islam does not tolerate any form of humiliation or psychological and physical abuse of Eve’s daughters.

His Excellency also affirmed to the Consul General the Academy’s willingness raise Muslim communities’ awareness over the importance of respecting the requirements of citizenship in their country, and the need to abide by the laws and regulations in force while preserving their religious identity, as there is, in fact, no significant conflict between religious affiliation and loyalty to the country in which a Muslim may reside. It is therefore necessary to correct the concepts that imply a conflict between the two parties because Islam does not stand against belonging to a country while preserving one’s faith and religion.

His Excellency concluded his speech by stressing that the Academy will move forward to strengthen cooperative relations with the new Consul General and with all American universities and scientific centers interested in dialogue and coexistence.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Ayman Abdel Karim, Financial Advisor to the Secretary General, Mr. Mourad Al-Tlili, Media Advisor to the Secretary General, Mrs. Sarah Amjad Hussein, Director of Family and Women’s Affairs, and Mr. Amjad Mustafa, Head of the Protocol Department.