His Excellency the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Da’wah and Guidance for Islamic Affairs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Dr. Awwad bin Sabti Al-Anzi, visited the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA) on Wednesday 11 Safar 1444H corresponding to 07 September 2022G. Upon his arrival, the guest was received by Prof. Koutoub Moustapha Sano, Secretary General of the Academy.

At the outset of the visit, His Excellency welcomed the honorable guest and the delegation accompanying him, thanking in particular His Excellency Sheikh Dr. Abdul Latif Al Sheikh, Minister of Islamic Affairs, Da’wah and Guidance, for his continuous support and great appreciation to the Academy, its activities and programs, as well as his keenness to strengthen and consolidate relations of cooperation and coordination between the Academy and the ministry. His Excellency seized the occasion to commend the great efforts that the Headquarters State, as the land of the Two Holy Mosques, continues to make in serving Islam and Muslims, supporting the Ummah’s causes, and spreading the approach of moderation, peace and tolerance. His Excellency pointed out that there is a congruence between many of the goals of the Academy with the goals of the ministry, which makes the Academy aspiring to closer cooperation and coordination between the two sides on many issues of concern to the Muslim Ummah.

For his part, His Eminence Sheikh Dr. Awwad bin Sabti Al-Anzi expressed his great pleasure and happiness at visiting the Academy and meeting with His Excellency the Secretary General, where he conveyed to him the greetings of His Excellency the Minister Sheikh Dr. Abdullatif Al Al-Sheikh, and assured him of the ministry’s keenness to support and strengthen the bonds of cooperation and coordination with the Academy in all issues and topics that concern both sides, especially with regard to spreading the method of moderation, and rejecting extremism and fanatism. He also praised the qualitative leap that the Academy has witnessed since His Excellency assumed the reins of leadership in the General Secretariat, and his aspiration for more achievements and successes for this great Islamic edifice under the leadership of a great scholar such as His Excellency the Secretary General. He concluded by saying: “I am honored today to have visited the headquarters of the Academy and met His Excellency Prof. Koutoub Sano to discuss aspects of cooperation between the Ministry and the Academy. The meeting was filled with optimism and serious discussions to serve both sides under the directives of our wise leadership led by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince, and the follow-up of His Excellency the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Da’wah and Guidance Sheikh Dr. Abdul Latif Al-Sheikh. I was very pleased to hear of the blessed efforts of this great edifice, and we held discussions on many possible areas of cooperation. I thank His Excellency the Secretary General and his team for the great reception and warm welcome.”

The meeting was attended from the Ministry’s Side by Mr. Rashid Abdullah Al-Rashoud, Director General of Foreign Relations and International Cooperation, Mr. Saleh Al-Tamimi, Media Officer at the Ministry, and Mr. Rashid Al-Jahni, Minister’s Office – Jeddah Branch. On the part of the Academy, Mr. Mohamed Al-Mondher Al-Chouk, Director of the Cabinet Affairs Department, and Mr. Mourad TLiLi, Advisor to His Excellency the Secretary General for Media Affairs and Public Relations.