His Excellency Dr Mohammad bin Abdulkarim al-Issa is going to visit India on 10^th of July. As per sources, Dr al-Issa is expected to meet India’s Minister for External Affairs, Dr S Jaishankar, Minister for Minority Affairs Smt. Smriti Z Irani, and he may also call on the Hon’ble President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu.

His Excellency Dr Mohammad bin Abdulkarim al-Issa

His Excellency Dr Mohammad bin Abdulkarim al-Issa is a prominent religious leader, Islamic scholar and reformist from Saudi Arabia. Before being appointed   Secretary General of the Muslim World League in 2016, Dr al-Issa served as the Minister of Justice in Saudi Cabinet.

As the powerful Saudi Minister for Justice, Excellency, oversaw key reforms in several areas, including legislative reforms in family matters, humanitarian cases, and for the rights of women.

An alumnus of the prestigious Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Dr. Al Issa has a master’s degree and a PhD in Comparative Judicial Studies.

An esteemed figure in global affairs Dr. Al-Issa, , is widely recognized for his prominent role in promoting moderate Islam and fostering empathy, understanding, and cooperation among people of all backgrounds.

Secretary General of the Muslim World League

As the Secretary General of the Muslim World League, an influential non-governmental organization representing Muslims worldwide, Dr. Al-Issa has spearheaded initiatives to build partnerships and strengthen relations between diverse communities, faiths, and nations.

He also serves as the chairman of the Centre for Responsible Leadership, a body of globally influential government, faith, media, business, and community leaders working together to solve the challenges facing humanity and the world today.

His Excellency Dr. Mohammad bin Abdulkarim al-Issa has been commended by religious leaders, government officials, and international organizations for his efforts in promoting moderation, cooperation, and coexistence among people of different faiths.

Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan, Archbishop of New referred to Al-Issa as the “most eloquent spokesperson in the Islamic world for reconciliation and friendship among the religions of the world

Ndileka Mandela, granddaughter of Noble laureate Nelson Mandela and head of the Thembekile Mandela Foundation, has praised Dr Al-Issa as a “remarkable voice for Muslim tolerance and moderation.

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Journey of our esteemed guest

In January 2020, he led a delegation to the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland, to mark the 75th anniversary of the camp’s liberation from Nazis.

In July 2022, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud appointed Dr Al-Issa the Khateeb of Hajj 1443 Hijri to deliver the hajj sermon from the pulpit of Masjid Nimra. The Hajj is the largest gathering of Muslims in the world and Dr Al-Issa used the opportunity to advocate a moderate message of Islam promoting harmony and compassion.

Under Dr Al-Issa’s guidance, MWL arranged a discussion and debate forum in Riyadh in May 2022 titled “Forum on Common Values among Religious Followers” where the participants denounced the idea of an ‘inevitable clash of civilizations’ due to religious issues.

The Charter of Makkah, endorsed in 2019 by 1,000 religious scholars representing 128 countries, was an effort led by the Muslim World League under Dr Al-Issa to create a set of principles that support anti-extremism, religious and cultural diversity, tolerance and legislation against hate and violence.

Engagements during his visit to India:

Dr. Mohammad Bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, Secretary General of Muslim World League shall arrive in New Delhi on 10 July. He shall be meeting India’s National Security Advisor Shri Ajit Doval for a one on one in the evening. On 11th July, at 11 am, on the invitation of Khusro Foundation,   Dr al-Issa is addressing a gathering of prominent religious and community leaders, academics and media at B. S. Abdur Rahman Auditorium, India Islamic Cultural Centre, Lodhi Road. India’s NSA Shri Ajit Doval shall also address the gathering.

Given his previous work as Minister of Justice Saudi Arabia and Secretary General Muslim World League, he is expected to speak on moderate Islam, dialogue between civilizations, religious tolerance, intercultural communication, non-violence and religious pluralism.

Many invitees including senior academics from various Universities are showing keen interest in the event in view of Dr Issa’s nuanced stance on various critical issues facing the Muslim world.He will also meet the President of ICCR and interact with a group of distinguished faith leaders at Vivekanand International Foundation. As per sources he might visit Akshardham Temple and also meet some prominent personalities