His Excellency Prof. Koutoub Moustapha Sano, Secretary General of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA), received His Excellency Ambassador Eko Hartono, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Indonesia to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Consul General in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday, 09 Dhu al-Qa’dah, 1443H, corresponding to 08 June 2022G, at the headquarters of the Academy in Jeddah.

The Ambassador expressed his pleasure and honor to visit the Academy, thanking the Secretary General for the excellent reception and warm welcome, stressing his keen interest since assuming the duties of the permanent representative of the Republic of Indonesia to the OIC to strengthen relations of cooperation, communication and partnership with the Organization and its subsidiary organs, especially the Academy. His Excellency expressed his aspiration to activate his country’s role within the Council of the Academy through the nomination of a new member representing his country. He also affirmed the readiness of the Republic of Indonesia for the participation of some of its scholars in the delegation of the Ummah’s scholars who will visit Kabul in the coming days under the leadership of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy.

His Excellency concluded by expressing his gratitude and thanks for the visit made by His Excellency with a delegation from the Academy to Indonesia during the past year, which left a good impression on Indonesian officials, especially His Excellency the Minister of Religious Affairs, religious and scientific figures and the renowned Islamic organizations he met with.

For his part, His Excellency the Secretary General expressed his happiness with this honorable visit, congratulating His Excellency the Ambassador on his appointment as the permanent representative of the Republic of Indonesia to the OIC, and praising the keenness of the Republic of Indonesia to strengthen relations of cooperation, coordination and partnership with the Academy at all levels, especially after the visit of the delegation of the Academy to Indonesia last year. His Excellency also confirmed the consolidation of cooperation and coordination with various major scientific institutions and centers that were visited by the Academy’s delegation, and signed partnership and cooperation agreements with some of them, chief among them the Indonesian Scholars Council, Sharif Hidayah University, Nahdatul Ulama, the Muhammadiyah movement, and others. On this occasion, His Excellency referred to the Academy’s aspiration for the Republic of Indonesia to hold one of the Academy’s upcoming sessions in implementation of the pledges made by the official authorities in Indonesia during the delegation’s visit, pointing out in this regard the Academy’s full readiness for Indonesia to become an international center for Islamic social financing.

His Excellency concluded by giving a detailed overview of the Academy’s activities and programs and its five-year strategic plan, which includes a number of programs, projects and initiatives that can benefit the member states of the OIC, noting that the Academy will invite a number of Indonesian scholars and experts to participate in its next symposium on stunning poultry and animals in Islam.

The meeting was attended by Mr. Ilham Effendy, First Secretary of the Consulate General of Indonesia in Jeddah, Ms. Sarah Amjad Hussain, Director of Women and Family Affairs at the Academy, Dr. AlHagi Manta Drammeh, Head of International Cooperation and External Relations Division at the Academy, and Mr. Mourad TLiLi, Adviser to the Secretary General of the Academy for Media Affairs.