Lord Tariq Mahmood Ahmad of Wimbledon, Minister of State for the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, Commonwealth and the United Nations at the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office of the United Kingdom visited the Academy on Wednesday 14^th February 2024 at the headquarters of the International Islamic Fiqh Academy in Jeddah, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Upon his arrival and the delegation at the headquarters of the Academy, Lord Tariq was received by His Excellency Professor Koutoub Moustapha Sano, the Secretary General of the Academy.

Lord Tariq thanked Professor Sano for the hospitality and the kind reception to the Academy noting the pivotal role of the Academy in correcting misconceptions and misrepresentations about the noble message of Islam in terms of peaceful coexistence, moderation and social cohesion. Lord Tariq added that his visit to the Academy is another step in the direction of further collaboration between the Academy and British institutions in promoting the values of moderation and understanding and believes that the role of the Academy can be crucial in providing guidance and assistance on issues of interpretation and its contextualisation. Lord Tariq particularly highlighted the importance of education of girls, combating extremism and exploring the development of Islamic finance instruments in the United Kingdom.

Professor Sano welcomed his honourable guest and his delegation for this important visit to the Academy by a senior British official and his delegation, welcoming the idea of further collaboration between the Academy and British Institutions on educational and academic issues, as well as the promotion of moderation and peaceful existence. Professor Added: “The Academy represents fifty-seven member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and it is the primary reference globally so far as intellectual and jurisprudential issues are concerned and that its resolutions and recommendations are far-reaching and impactful”.

On the question of protracted Israeli-Palestinian conflict, both Professor Sano and Lord Tariq reiterated that the UN Resolution on a two-state solution is the way forward to end the conflict. They both reiterated that the carnage has to stop.

At the end of the meeting, Lord Tariq extended a kind invitation to Professor Sano to visit the United Kingdom in order to further discuss for areas of collaboration.

The delegation participating in the meeting, included Mrs Cecille El Beleidi, the British Consul General in Jeddah, Mr Jonathan Willis, Assistant Private Secretary for H.E. the Minister Lord Tariq, Mr Thomas Philip Allen, the Deputy Head of Department, Gulf Countries & Iraq, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, London, Ms Rachel Parker, 2nd Secretary at the British Embassy in Riyadh and Mr Omar Saeed, Senior Trade Officer, British Consulate General in Jeddah. It was also attended by Mr. Mohamed Mondher Chouk, Director of Cabinet, Protocols, and Legal Affairs, Ms. Sarah Amjad Badewi, Director of the Family, Woman, Childhood and Elderly Affairs, Mr. Saad Sallahudin Sammar, Media Division Head and Dr. Alhagi Manta Drammeh, Head of International Cooperation and External Relations Division at the Academy.