Mohammad Al-Issa is a senior political figure in the Saudi Government and a former Minister. He is now the Secretary General of an important organisation called Muslim World League with the Goal of weaning Muslims away from radicalism and creating a harmonious social order in the Arab world. He enjoys full backing of MBS and actively pursuing the agenda.
As Secretary General of the Muslim World League, a Makkah-based non-governmental organisation that represents adherents of the Islamic faith around the world, Dr. Al-fasa has been a trailblazer in building new partnerships among different communities, faiths and nations. He also heads the Intellectual Warfare Center, a body affiliated with the Saudi Defense Ministry, dedicated to combating extremist and terrorist ideology.
Dr Al-lssa’s groundbreaking interfaith efforts
Al-Issa’s efforts to promote harmony among different faiths has been lauded by the international community. One such effort is his trip to Auschwitz in January 2020 for the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the death camp. The Auschwitz Museum declared it the most senior Islamic delegation ever to visit.
He has been recognized by the American Jewish Committee, the American Sephardi Federation and the Combat Anti-Semitism Movement for his leadership and initiatives to combat antiSemitism? Islamophobia and hale speech around the world.
1n 2019, Dr. Al-Issa led representatives of the Abrahamic religions in France in signing an agreement for peace and solidarity, and held a conference on reconciliation in Sri Lanka to heal inter-religious divides created by the terrible Easter terrorist attacks. Dr. Al-Issa also met with His Holiness Pope Francis in 2017 to forge a first of its kind agreement between MWLand the Vatican.
The American Jewish Committee (AJC) has described Dr. Al-Issa as “the most powerful voice in the Muslim world promoting Islam.”
Leadership of the Muslim World League
Dr. Al-Issa assumed his current role as Secretary-General of the Muslim World League in August 2016 and travelled extensively throughout the United States, Europe, Africa and Asia, meeting with dignitaries and parliamentarians from the fields of justice, law and human rights, as well as major faith-based and community leaders.
He represented the Muslim world in commemorating the annual anniversary of the atomic bomb dropping on Hiroshima, Japan, in 2017, in the presence of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
To advance his vision of civilizational and cultural dialogue, Dr. Al-fasa visited the Vatican in September 2017 to meet Pope Francis and the late Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, Chairman of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. Those discussions led to an unprecedented partnership between the MWL and The Holy See, and paved the way for the most senior visit ever by a Vatican official to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in April 2018.
In 2019, Dr Al-Issa visited Sri Lanka to meet with Buddhist and Muslim religious leaders to promote healing and integration in the wake of the country’s deadly Easter attacks. He received the Order of Peace from Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena.
Dr Al-Issa Inks several cooperation agreements with largest Jewish institutions operating in US and globally
The agreements signed by Al -Issa included the largest synagogue in the U.S. and the AJC, and focus on promoting common values, protecting religious sites of worship and building greater interfaith understanding.
In September 2019, he orchestrated the first agreement between leaders of the Abrah_amic religions in Paris, joining Jewish, Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox Christian leaders in an agreement committing to harmony and solidarity.
In 2020, Dr. AJ-Issafinalized a cooperation agreement with the Russian Orthodox Church and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow, in another inter-religious initiative without precedent.
In January 2020, Dr. Al-Issa became the most senior Islamic leader to visit the German Nazi concentration and · extermination camp a<; part of a joint MWL-AJC vis.it to Jewish historical and cultural sites in Poland. As part of this trip, he lit candles before the Death Wall at Auschwitz and the International Monument at Auschwitz IIBirkenau. Dr. Al-Issa also visited the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews and the Nozyk Synagogue, the only surviving pre-war Jewish house of prayer in Warsaw.
Dr. Al-Issa joined German Chancellor Angela Merkel and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in the AJC Vinual Global Forum opening plenary in June 2020, joining in their call for dialogue and cooperation to create a better, more
equal world free of anti-Semitism, lslamophobia and any other form of prejudice.
Later that month, he joined Norway’s Prime Minister Ema Solberg in a virtual symposium focused on fighting hate and discrimination.
Throughout 2020, Dr. Al-Issa oversaw a comprehensive research project in partnership with the United Nations University for Peace, which culminated in a launch of the book “Promote Peace, Human Rights andCivilized Dialogue,’-‘ in November 2020.
In June 2021, Dr. Al-Issa brokered a groundbreaking agreement between government ministers and senior scholars from Afghanistan and Pakistan. The “Declaration of Peace in Afghanistan” creates a roadmap for reconciliation in the decades-long conflict in Afghanistan.
Most recently, in March 2022. Dr. Al-Issa completed a seven-day visit to three U.S. as a part of an effort to strengthen relations between Muslims and other faith groups. As a part of the Global Faith Forum, Dr. Al-Issa was hosted by Pastor Bob Roberts and the Multi-Faith Neighbors Network, in Dallas, Texas. He later visited thriving evangelical churches in Kansas City, Missouri, and Glenarden, Maryland. The visit represented the largest-ever gathering of Muslims and Evangelicals.
The Charter of Makkah
Widely considered one of the most important documents in modern Islamic history, the Charter of Makkah calls for combating hate speech. violence, extremism and terrorism around the world, while advancing the principles of Islam and interfaith partnership. The histmic charter was unanimously endorsed by more than 1,200 notable Muslim scholars at the culmination of the Makkah Conference, held by the MWL in May 2019. Dr. Al-Issa led the four-day conference, which included participants representing every sect of Islam.
Education and Early Career of Al-Issa
Born and raised in Saudi Arabia, Dr. Al-Issa completed his studies at the University of lmam Muhammad binSaudi Islamic, where he earned a master’s degree and a PhD in Comparative Judicial Studies (Constitutional
Law).
Thereafter, Dr. Al-Issa held many prestigious public offices in Saudi Arabia. He worked as a judge in the·Ministry of Justice, rising to the highest rank of Chief Appellate Judge. In April 2007, he was appointed Vice President of the Court of Grievances. And in February 2009, Dr. Al-Issa was appointed Minister of Justice and an Advisor to the Royal Court. As Minister of Justice: Dr. Al-Issa was credited both in Saudi Arabia and abroad for ushering in several key reforms, including legislative reforms in family matters, humanitarian cases, and for the rights of women.
In November of 2012, the Council of Arab Ministers of Justice selected him as its honorary president He joined the teaching staff at the College of Law and Political Science at King Saud University, and the Higher Judicial Institute
of Al-fulam Mohammad Bin Saud Islamic University.
As a leader in combating violent extremism in all its forms, Dr. Al-Issa was appointed General Supervisor at the
Ideological Warfare Center in December 2015, where he has led efforts to combat the proliferation of extremist ideology on social media and elsewhere.
Since 2017, he has served as a General Supervisor of the King Salman Center for International Peace (KSIPC) in Malaysia Toe Kingdom of Malaysia awarded Dr. Al-Issa its highest award, the “Dato Seri” at a ceremony convened by Sultan Muhammad V. The Republic of Singapore also has honoured Dr. Al-Issa for his international efforts in promoting tolerance, coexistence and peace.
In August 2017, Dr. Al-Issa delivered a keynote speech on behalf of Muslims at the International Summit on Religion at Mount Hai in Kyoto, Japan, presided over by the chief priest of the Tendai Buddhist sect. A year later, Dr. AlIssa delivered an address on behalf of Muslims around the world at the 39th Meeting for Friendship Among People in the ltalian city of Rimini.
Awards Won by Al-Issa
Dr Al-Issa is the recipient of numerous domestic and international awards for his leadership in promoting interreligious dialogue and moderation and fighting extremism and hateful rhetoric. In December 2022, His Excellency Dr. Muhammad Al-Issa was awarded the Medal of the Ambassador of
International Peace, with the approval and approval of the United Nations, which he received from His Excellency the President of the Republic of The Gambia, in a large international celebration hosted by the capital, Banjul.
In the same month, His Excellency also received an honorary doctorate from the University of Gambia in international peace.
In October 2022, he received one of Pakistan’s highest decorations, the ”Pakistan Crescent”, which he was awarded by His Excellency President Dr. Arif Alvi, in recognition of his great efforts in combating Islamophobia, by
delivering the message of peace that Islam calls for, correcting misconceptions about him, and his inspiring role in promoting Islam.
In October 2022, His Excellency the President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh AI-Ghazwani, decorated Dr. Muhammad Al-Issa with the “National Order of Merit”, for his international efforts in clarifying the true image of Islam.
In October 2022, His Excellency the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan issued a presidential decree granting Dr. Al-Issa, the Honorary Medal of the Conference of Religious Leaders; This is in appreciation of his effort to
support dialogue between followers of religions, and his support for the success of the Kazakhstan Conference of Religious Leaders.
In February 2022, His Excellency Dr. Muhammad Al-Issa was awarded an honorary doctorate in law from Pattani University, Thailand, in recognition of the Islamic missions that had a clear impact in serving Islamic work and
clarifying the truth of its teachings.
In February 2022, the President of the Republic of Maldives Mr. Ibrahim Mohamed Solih awarded Dr. Al-Issa the Order of the Republic for his contributions to promoting Islamic unity, and peace and harmony around the world.
In November 2021, Dr. Al-Issa received the Norwegian Bridge Builder Award for his contributions to building bridges between individuals, nations and societies. The Award Committee commended Dr. Al-Issa as a leading
force in promoting moderation, peace and cooperation among all communities, faiths and beliefs.
In August 2021, Malaysia bestowed on Dr. Al-Issa the Prophet’s Hijra Award in recognition of his efforts in highlighting the true, principles of Islam, promoting harmony among different faiths, religions and cultures, and spreading world peace.
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