Former Saudi justice minister, head of Muslim World League wants interfaith peace ‘through real world action’

One of many largest average Islam advocacy teams on the earth says the time for discuss and fruitless dialogue is over – as an alternative, the world wants concrete actions.

Muslim World League Secretary Basic Dr. Muhammad bin Abdul Karim Issa is taken into account by many to be the main voice in opposition to political, extremist Islam worldwide. Issa spoke with Fox Information Digital in regards to the MWL’s efforts to attach with different religions and have an effect on significant change in interfaith relationships all over the world. 

“Interfaith cooperation will not be merely a symbolic endeavor,” Issa advised Fox Information Digital in an interview. “It should be actualized by actual world motion. It’s this thought that informs the very soul and operations of MWL.”

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Issa’s appointment as minister of justice by King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in 2009 was seen as a serious step ahead for the liberalization of the nation. Saudi Arabia has lengthy been a haven of human rights abuses, together with violent punishment of spiritual minorities and activists. Earlier than the Ministry of Justice, Issa served on the Grievances Courtroom – a judicial physique that handles arbitration on spiritual and political crimes. The dying penalty continued whereas Issa was on the board, however the variety of executions started to rise after his transfer to the king’s cupboard. 

After leaving workplace in 2015, Issa moved to MWL, the place he presently serves as its chief. Nevertheless, the MWL will not be completely separated from the federal government. The group was based in 1962 by then-Crown Prince Faisal Bin Abdul-Aziz. It’s primarily based out of Mecca, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continues to function its principal benefactor.

Issa says his tenure as secretary common has been centered on breaking by entrenched divisions and providing concrete modifications.

“For instance, we now have lengthy acknowledged the important friendship and respect between Muslim and Jewish faiths,” Issa stated. “I led a ground-breaking journey to Auschwitz in 2020 whereby myself and a outstanding delegation of Muslim students remembered the atrocious crimes dedicated in opposition to the Jewish inhabitants throughout WW2. I knew this obligation, to overtly dispute entrenched narratives of division and stand in solidarity with my Jewish counterparts, would set up a brand new precedent and make tangible progress in relations between Muslim and Jewish spiritual leaders.”

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud propaganda billboard on Dec. 14, 2018, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. (Eric Lafforgue/Artwork in All of Us/Corbis by way of Getty Pictures)

Muslim World League’s critics accuse Issa of watering down Islam in an effort to make it extra progressive – sacrificing the truth of the faith’s religious claims for the sake of interfaith relations. Issa says his group will not be fascinated by contorting or twisting Islam to suit into fashionable worldwide politics, however desires to carry firmly to the faith whereas embracing its capability for tolerance towards different faiths.

“One of the best instance of how MWL’s dedication to cross spiritual dialogue has not sacrificed the core tenets of Islam is our latest go to to the USA, the place we engaged the Christian Evangelical neighborhood in what is often known as the Bible belt,” Issa advised Fox Information Digital. 

“How can we be at odd with our Islamic ideas when the premise of those engagements, with Christian pastors like Pastor Roberts, and Jewish leaders like Rabbi David Saperstein, Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker, was the Makkah Constitution – a constitution signed and endorsed by over 4,000 Islamic thinkers and 1,200 senior Islamic students from all over the world?” the Islamic chief requested.

The Makkah Constitution is the MWL’s crown jewel to date – a doc written, studied, edited and accredited by over a thousand Muslim students from virtually each sect of Islam. Such a doc is a uncommon instance of inter-Islam cooperation at a time when minority factions of the religion are beneath excessive risk of violence in many countries.

“The Constitution of Makkah is a pan-Islamic set of ideas which help and promote anti-extremism, spiritual and cultural range, and requires laws in opposition to hate-motivated crimes and violence,” the constitution’s web site states. “The doc was declared on the finish of a four-day convention organized by the Muslim World League in Makkah. It was accredited by Islamic leaders of 139 nations and signed by round 1,300 outstanding Muslim figures.”

Issa says that whereas communication is an efficient begin, extra concrete tasks for interfaith cooperation are needed to show discuss into motion.

MWL has created and funded charities in Africa to fight the disaster of human trafficking in partnership with different religion teams within the area. They’re additionally the creators of the Mercy & Peace Basis, which equally crosses religion traces to offer sources for victims of gender-based violence.

“Though holding talks with main Jewish, Christian, and Catholic representatives – such because the one I shared in 2019 with Pope Francis – are essential to selling mutual understanding, the MWL is aware of extra must be completed to realize peace,” he advised Fox Information Digital. “Our need to function massive scale and world tasks with, and for, completely different faiths and nations is what permits us to transcend dialog.”

“The Worldwide Group for Aid, Welfare and Growth is among the many most necessary organizations of the MWL,” Issa stated. “It gives assist to Muslim and non-Muslim communities in want all over the world. In 2019, the IIRO efficiently concluded the League’s Boreholes Undertaking designed to offer clear consuming water to communities in Ghana.” 

The IORWD, previously referred to as Worldwide Islamic Aid Group or Worldwide Islamic Aid Group of Saudi Arabia (IIRO), is a serious NGO with work in over 58 nations. The IORWD invests in well being care, schooling, engineering and emergency service packages the world over. In addition they present funds for Islamic examine packages in underserved areas.

Nevertheless, the Saudi-funded group has not operated for this lengthy with out hindrances. The assaults of 9/11 on the USA by the Saudi authorities put it beneath the world’s microscope, and United Nations officers started scrutinizing the NGO from each angle.

After the terrorist assaults, two branches of the IIRO have been accused of facilitating or aiding terrorist exercise by way of Indonesia and the Phillipines. The IIRO have been added to the UN al Qaeda Sanctions Record in 2006. 

IIRO denied any wrongdoing and was finally cleared from the listing in 2014.

Issa continued, “[The IORWD] sponsored a number of well being facilities all through Africa, together with surgical procedure facilities in Nigeria, Senegal, Burundi and Zimbabwe. We proceed to sponsor orphanages, offering academic supplies, clothes and safety to susceptible youngsters in Pakistan and elsewhere.”

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Saudi Arabian flag in entrance of a fresco on Jan. 3, 2020, in Abha, Saudi Arabia. (Eric Lafforgue/Artwork in All of Us/Corbis by way of Getty Pictures)

Requested about Issa’s own residence of Saudi Arabia and its lack of diplomatic relations with key worldwide religion communities such because the Holy See and Israel, Issa stated the MWL was merely not able to have an effect on political change on a global stage.

“[MWL hopes to help in] constructing common bridges that may assist convey humanity collectively. All with the ambition to encourage civilizational dialogue constructed on the one drive shared by billions of individuals all over the world: Religion. What political outcomes ensue therein is neither a spotlight nor an element MWL can management.”

Nevertheless, Issa, as head of the MWL stays optimistic. 

He provides, “The hope stays singular: To rally humankind beneath the banner of mutual respect, cooperation and belief – foundations MWL believes require absolute and clear strengthening amid the rising polarization, hate, inequality, racism, and the literal illness of ours and our planet.”