H.E. Prof. Koutoub Moustapha Sano, Secretary General of the Academy, received H.E. Mr. Ashraf Al-Nour, Director of the New York Office of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), on Tuesday, 05 Sha’aban 1446, corresponding to 04 February 2025, at the Academy’s headquarters in Jeddah.

H.E. Mr. Ashraf Al-Nour expressed his great thanks and gratitude to the Secretary General for the warm reception and hospitality, and for his honor to visit the Muslim world’s leading fiqh reference, commending its outstanding efforts in the Muslim world and Muslim communities, especially with regard to contemporary issues such as migration and its relevance for the OIC member states and Muslim communities beyond. He also expressed his firm desire to strengthen the bonds of cooperation and communication between the Academy and the IOM New York Office through the signing of a cooperation agreement.

For his part, the Secretary General welcomed his honorable guest and thanked him for this visit, which shows IOM’s respect for the Academy and confirms its desire and keenness to build cooperation and communication between both sides. The Secretary General then briefed IOM Director on the history of the Academy, its activities, programs, and efforts to combat poverty through enhancing the role of Zakat, explaining that the Academy pays due consideration to the role of Islamic social financing in supporting humanitarian work in areas of conflicts and disasters, as well as promoting the culture of volunteerism to enhance joint Islamic action. Hence, the Academy adopted a resolution recommending the inclusion of the culture of volunteerism and its importance in the curricula of schools and universities in order to raise awareness, increase the number of volunteers, urge society to carry out organized volunteer work of various types and methods, and in various fields that serve all humanity, especially in times of crises and disasters when there is an increase in the number of refugees and displaced persons, regardless of religion or race.

The ION Director concluded the visit by recording his positive sentiments in the Book of Honors, where he said: “We were pleased today to meet H.E. Prof. Koutoub Moustapha Sano, Secretary General of the Academy, and to discuss fields of cooperation in Islamic volunteer work in the OIC Member states, and for the purpose of helping the underprivileged children to benefit from Zakat and charity funds for their voluntary return and rehabilitation in their countries”.

The meeting was attended by Mr. Mohammed Chouk, Director of Cabinet and Protocols and Mr. Saad Al-Samar, Head of Media and IT at the Academy.