A delegation of the United States of America’s Department of States pays a courtesy visit to the International Islamic Fiqh Academy in Jeddah Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on 12^th Rabiul Awwal 1445H corresponding to Thursday 28^th September 2023. The delegation was composed of Mr. Hady Elneil, Deputy Political-Economic Section Chief of the Consulate General of the United States of America in Jeddah, Mr. Oliver Wileox Senior Advisor of OIC-USA at Department of State and Mr. Steve D. Leu Regional China Officer Embassy of the United States of America in the United Arab Emirates.

The delegation was received by the Secretary General of the Academy His Excellency Professor Koutoub Moustapha Sano and he expressed his delight with the visit and added: “This is manifestation of the existing relationship between the US Consulate General and the Academy and with other organs of OIC in Jeddah. Professor Sano gave the guests an overview of the Academy with regards to its vision, philosophy and activities it is embarking on, in order to promote a balanced intellectual discourse, combating extremist ideolog culture of comprehensive citizenship and social cohesion. He welcomed the idea of collaboration and partnership with relevant USA educational institutions to advocate for core values of freedom of religion, interfaith dialogue, acceptance of difference, defence of rights of people to education and dignity.

On their part, the USA delegation thanked the Secretary General HE Professor Sano for the warm welcome and hospitality. The delegation concurred with Professor Sano on the issues he raised as there are core values that America shares with the Academy. Mr Hady Elneil assured His Excellency of the need to work collaboratively in developing practical steps for implementing the shared values across the board. Emphasis was particularly made on female education, rights of minorities, youth engagement and response to humanitarian and social cries around the world and the role Muslim states can play through and under the umbrella of Organization of Islamic Cooperation. Both Mr. Steve Leu and Mr. Oliver Wileox of the USA delegation echoed the importance of partnership and collaboration in developing practical activities to respond to the challenges and issues discussed as a follow-up on earlier meetings that the Academy and USA officials had held in Jeddah and Washington.

The meeting was attended by Mr. Mohamed Mondher Redha Chouk, Director of Cabinet, Protocols, and Legal Affairs, Ms. Sarah Amjad Badewi, Director of the Family, Woman, Childhood and Elderly Affairs, and Dr. Alhagi Manta Drammeh, Head of International Cooperation and External Relations at the Academy.