As part of his official visit to the United Kingdom, H.E. Prof. Koutoub Moustapha Sano, Secretary General of the Academy, held an official meeting with H.E. Mr. David Smith, the UK Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion, on Tuesday, 20 Muharam 1447, corresponding to 15 July 2025, at the British Foreign Office, London.

The meeting was dedicated to discussing ways to strengthen cooperation between the two sides in the fields of protecting religious freedoms, upholding the principle of freedom of religion and belief, combating hate speech and extremism, and confronting the phenomenon of Islamophobia. The meeting also addressed supporting efforts to promote understanding and coexistence among followers of different religions and cultures through joint initiatives and constructive civilizational dialogue.

The Secretary General of the Academy expressed his profound appreciation to the British government for its generous support of the Muslim community and its keenness to empower it to contribute effectively to the progress and development of British society. He praised the UK’s distinguished model in embracing religious and cultural diversity. The Secretary General also discussed the efforts undertaken by the Academy to entrench the principles of moderation and balance, combat extremist ideologies, and promote a culture of peaceful coexistence. He noted that the Academy had signed cooperation agreements with several prestigious institutions in the UK, including the University of Birmingham and the Islamic Cultural Centre in London, to enhance academic and intellectual collaboration and the exchange of expertise.

For his part, H.E. Mr. David Smith commended the pioneering role played by the Academy in fostering mutual understanding and spreading moderate discourse. He affirmed the United Kingdom’s desire to expand avenues of cooperation with credible and leading Islamic institutions such as the International Islamic Fiqh Academy.

At the end of the meeting, both parties agreed to continue coordination and intensify joint efforts through programs and initiatives that contribute to promoting tolerance, safeguarding religious freedoms, and enhancing dialogue among followers of different religions and sects across the world.