His Excellency Mullah Sirajuddin Haqqani, Acting Minister of Interior of the ruling authority in Afghanistan, welcomed the delegation of Muslim scholars visiting Kabul, led by His Excellency Prof. Koutoub Moustapha Sano, Secretary General of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA), on Wednesday 22 Dhu al-Qi’dah 1443H corresponding to 23 June 2022G at the headquarters of the Ministry of Interior in the Afghan capital, Kabul.

His Excellency the Minister warmly welcomed the delegation and thanked them for visiting Afghanistan. He also thanked the Ummah’s scholars for their concern for the future of the Afghan people, stressing that this visit is the first visit of a large delegation at a high level to the Islamic Emirate since its arrival to power, noting in this regard the emirate’s aspiration to call upon Muslim countries to recognize the ruling authority in Afghanistan as the only legitimate authority representing the Afghan people.

For his part, the Secretary General, head of the delegation, began his speech on behalf of the delegation by expressing the delegation’s great pleasure and great appreciation for the generous hospitality and warm welcome, thanking him for the efforts exerted by his ministry in ensuring security and safety throughout Afghanistan, praising what has been achieved in this regard recently.

Then His Excellency spoke about the Academy as the supreme jurisprudential reference for the Muslim Ummah in everything related to clarifying the Shariah rulings in calamities and issues of concern to Muslims everywhere, pointing out that it is the largest scientific institution for collective ijtihad in the present era, which makes its resolutions and recommendations acceptable to the Ummah. He explained that the visit of the delegation of Muslim scholars to Afghanistan, led by the Academy, came in implementation of the decision recommended by the Ministerial Council of Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), with the aim of discussing with the scholars of Afghanistan and Afghan officials on a number of issues and topics of concern to the Afghan people, especially the issue of tolerance, coexistence and harmony between followers of religions and sects, the issue of extremism and terrorism, and the issue of women’s education and work.

The delegation of scholars then exchanged with His Excellency on the aforementioned topics in a friendly and frank manner, as well as on how to translate the proposals made by the delegation into a tangible and permanent reality, especially with regard to the empowerment of both sexes in education at all educational levels, and ensuring the participation of Afghan women in building and progressing efforts in accordance with the Shariah regulations, as well as working to spread the culture of moderation, tolerance, coexistence and harmony among the components of the Afghan people, with their races, sects and ethnicities.

His Excellency the Minister concluded the meeting by renewing his thanks and appreciation to the delegation, promising that the Islamic Emirate will spare no effort in achieving security, safety, stability and prosperity for all members of the Afghan people without discrimination. He hoped that the delegation’s visits to Afghanistan would be repeated in the future.