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.