A delegation from Family Watch International of the United States, led by its President, Dr. Sharon Slater, Mr. Gregory Scott, Ms. Jennifer Olney, and Ambassador Omar Dahab Fadl, visited the Academy’s headquarters in Jeddah on Sunday 15 Muharam 1444 corresponding to 14 August 2022.
The delegation was received by Mr. Moez Al-Riyahi, Acting Secretary General of the Academy, Director of Finance, Investments and Projects, Dr. Abdulqahir Qamar, Director of Research, Studies, and Encyclopedias, Mr. Muhammad Walid Al-Idrisi, Director of Media and Public Relations, and Dr. Alhagi Mantah Drammeh, Head of the Academy’s International Cooperation and External Relations Division.
At the beginning of the meeting, Mr. Al-Riyahi welcomed the delegation on behalf of the Secretary General, Prof. Koutoub Moustapha Sano, and conveyed his greetings and best wishes for their visit, and presented to them an overview of the Academy, one of the most important organs of the OIC, which was established in 1981 to be the leading reference for the OIC Member states and Muslim communities in clarifying legal provisions on calamities and issues of concern to Muslims worldwide. He also pointed out that the members of the Academy are considered to be among the most prominent scholars and jurists representing the OIC’s 57 Member states, in addition to various scholars and experts in different fields of knowledge from within and outside the Muslim world.
Dr. Abdulqahir Qamar spoke about the great acceptance and reputation that the Academy enjoys in the Muslim world and among Muslim societies. He added that Family Watch International shares many values and objectives with the Academy regarding the importance and prestige of the family institution and the need to preserve and protect it. Mr. Mohammed Walid Al-Idrisi reiterated the same and once again welcomed the guests of the Academy.
Dr. Alhagi Mantah Drammeh spoke about the importance of the family institution, as the Academy has established an independent department called the Department of Family, Women, Children, and the Elderly, and appointed a director for this department, Mrs. Sarah Amjad Hussein, who was on personal leave during their visit. Dr. Alhagi Mantah noted that the Academy plans to organize a series of seminars and conferences to discuss many family-related issues and calamities in the coming months and suggested on this occasion that the delegation and the Academy could work together in areas of common interest after the conclusion of an MoU.
For her part, the President of Family Watch International, Dr. Sharon Slater, thanked the Academy for the warm welcome and the opportunity to visit the Academy in order to learn more about the Academy’s expertise in dealing with issues and topics related to the family institution, and to discuss the establishment of cooperative relations with the Academy in improving the family’s foundations and preserving its values. She added that her organization would be honored to cooperate with the Academy in areas of common interest. She also stated that her organization works to protect and strengthen the family as the basic unit and building block of society, and that it monitors and reports on policy and research developments related to the new cultural, social, and legal dynamics affecting children and the family.
At the end of the meeting, Mr. Al-Riyahi reiterated his thanks to the delegation for their visit and expressed the Academy’s will to strengthen cooperation between both sides. Dr. Slater expressed her sincere gratitude to the Academy, hoping to sign an MoU with the Academy in the near future. Both parties exchanged commemorative souvenirs.
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Secretary‑General of the Academy Visits the Consulate General of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan His Excellency Professor Dr. Qutb Mustafa Sano, Secretary‑General of the Academy, paid an official visit on 29 Sha‘ban 1447 AH, corresponding to 17 February 2026, to the Consulate General of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in Jeddah. His Excellency and his accompanying delegation were received by His Excellency Ambassador Mohammed Salah Sobhi Hameed, Consul General and Permanent Representative of Jordan to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, who welcomed him warmly and expressed his pleasure at the visit. He praised the distinguished intellectual efforts undertaken by the Academy under His Excellency’s leadership in addressing numerous religious and intellectual issues of concern to the Islamic world, affirming his personal honor in meeting His Excellency again and Jordan’s keenness to strengthen channels of communication and cooperation with the Academy, especially in areas of mutual interest. For his part, His Excellency expressed his deep gratitude and great appreciation to the Ambassador for the warm reception and generous hospitality. He commended the tremendous support, gracious care, and continuous attention the Academy has received from the leadership and people of Jordan since its establishment. He also conveyed his sincere appreciation for the Ambassador’s recent visit to the Academy, affirming the Academy’s full readiness to do everything that would enhance partnership, cooperation, coordination, and communication between the Academy and Jordanian religious and academic institutions. His Excellency was accompanied by Mr. Mohammed Al‑Mundhir Rida Al‑Shawk, Director of the Office and Protocol; Mr. Mohammed Waleed Al‑Idrisi, Director of Media and Public Relations; Ms. Sarah Amjad Badawi, Director of the Department of Family, Women, Children, and the Elderly; and Mr. Amjad Ibrahim Al‑Mansi, Head of the Protocol Section.
