In an effort to enhance cooperation and communication between the General Secretariat of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA) and the permanent delegates of the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and in order to identify the aspirations and expectations of the member states from the Academy in order to serve the issues of Islam and Muslims around the world, His Excellency Professor Koutoub Moustapha Sano, Secretary General of the Academy, visited on Wednesday, 20 of Dhu al-Qa’dah 1442 corresponding to June 30, 2021 AD, the headquarters of the delegation of the Federal Republic of Somalia in Jeddah, where he and the accompanying delegation, were received by His Excellency Ambassador Abdul Razzaq Siyad Abdi, Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Somalia to the OIC and his deputy Dr. Abdul Rahim Othman Alami. His Excellency the Ambassador welcomed the Secretary General and extended his thanks and deep appreciation to him for this visit, which is the first ever by a Secretary General of the Academy to the delegation of the Federal Republic of Somalia. The visit comes also in appreciation of the Ambassador’s visit to the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Assembly a few months ago.

The Ambassador also assured His Excellency of the Federal Republic of Somalia’s full readiness to strengthen cooperation and partnership between the Academy and the leading and reputable Somali scientific institutions, especially with regard to combating extremist ideology, terrorism, fanaticism, and armed terrorist groups that kill innocent civilians and attack lives and properties.

For his part, His Excellency the Secretary General praised the continuous support that the Academy has received from the Federal Republic of Somalia since its establishment, noting in this regard the distinguished role played by Somali scholars and thinkers in the Horn of Africa, in terms of their appreciated efforts in the field of combating all forms of extremism and terrorism, and His Excellency affirmed the full readiness of the Academy to provide all forms of intellectual and legal support to the government and people of Somalia, especially in the field of combating dangerous ideas that fuel terrorism and spread extremism, and call for wanton aggression against people, honor, and public and private property. His Excellency also expressed the Academy’s firm desire to hold international conferences, specialized seminars, and organize workshops in Somalia in cooperation with the eminent Somali scholars to refute these destructive and alien ideas to Islam.

At the conclusion of the visit, His Excellency Ambassador Abdul Razzaq Abdi reiterated his thanks and appreciation to the Secretary General and looked forward to more meetings and encounters to discuss various ways and means to spread the values ​​of tolerance, moderation, and temperance inside and outside the Islamic world.

Before leaving, His Excellency Prof. Koutoub Sano wrote a note in the protocol book to commemorate his visit to the headquarters of the Permanent Representative of the Federal Republic of Somalia in Jeddah.