In order to strengthen cooperation and partnership between the International Islamic Fiqh Academy and various official institutions, fatwa authorities, and Islamic councils within OIC Member States, an MoC was signed between H.E. Prof. Koutoub Moustapha Sano, Secretary General of the Academy, and H.E. Sheikh Dr. Mohamed Khater Issa, President of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and Chairman of Hajj and Umrah Directory of the Republic of Chad. This agreement was signed on the evening of 18 Rajab 1445, corresponding to 30 January 2024, at the Secretariat General’s headquarters.

The agreement aims to establish cooperation between the Academy and the Council in various areas of Islamic action, with a particular focus on matters related to fatwa, and to enhance collaboration and coordination, promote unity, and eliminate inconsistencies in fatwas in accordance with the principles of Islam and its teachings of tolerance. This cooperation also includes the exchange of knowledge, educational resources, and scientific publications related to contemporary developments and issues. Additionally, both parties plan to jointly organize seminars and conferences on topics of mutual interest.

After the signing ceremony, the Secretary General expressed his satisfaction with the collaboration, highlighting the respect OIC member states hold for the Academy as the supreme jurisprudential authority for Muslim countries and communities. He praised the Islamic Council’s efforts in promoting moderation, tolerance, peaceful coexistence, and unity in the Republic of Chad. He expressed hope that the memorandum would mark the beginning of a new era of cooperation between the Academy and scientific and religious institutions in the Republic of Chad, led by the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs.

In response, the President of the Council expressed his delight at the agreement and its potential to allow the Islamic Council to benefit from the Academy’s valuable scientific resolutions and recommendations. He stressed the importance of using these resolutions and recommendations to counteract deviant fatwas and extremist ideologies. According to the terms of MoU, both parties agreed to establish a specialized committee to define the scope of their cooperation, as well as the methods and mechanisms for implementing the agreement. The committee has the authority to select the appropriate individuals to execute all the provisions outlined in the agreement.

The signing ceremony was attended by H.E. Ambassador Hassan Saleh Al-Qadam Al-Junaidi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Chad to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Permanent Representative of Chad to the OIC, H.E. Dr. Mohamed Al-Bashir Ibrahim, Director General of the Arab and African World Dept at the Chadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a member of the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, H.E. Mr. Haroun Mohamed Saleh Al-Issa, Delegate of the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs of the Republic of Chad to Saudi Arabia, Mr. Mohamed Walid Al-Idrisi, Director of Media, Public Relations, and IT , and Mr. Amjad Al-Mansi, Head of Protocols at IIFA.