MAKKAH — The Supreme Council of the Muslim World League (MWL) stressed the need for further strengthening the role of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) as an umbrella body of the Islamic countries to narrow down gaps and bridge relations between the countries of the Islamic world. "The joint work of the Islamic Ummah is possible only under the umbrella of the pan Islamic body of OIC," the council stated. The 44th session of the council, which was held in Makkah on Tuesday, emphasized that the Islamic Ummah is looking forward to more cohesion and cooperation in this critical period. Eminent Islamic scholars, leaders, jurists, intellectuals and thinkers from 82 countries from all around the world attended the session. The inaugural session started with the speech of the Grand Mufti and Chairman of the council Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh, in which he lauded the Kingdom's great efforts in taking care of the Islamic Ummah's issues and efforts to close its ranks. The speakers of the session also included MWL Secretary General Sheikh Muhammad Al-Issa, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Bayyah, head of the UAE Fatwa Council, and Africa Scholars Forum President Sheikh Muhammad Al Nahwi. The MWL council voiced its support to the Makkah Charter, adopted by the Historic Islamic Unity Summit convened by MWL in Makkah last year, and affirmed the need to hold fast to principles of unity and fraternity, and be wary of dangers of disunity and discord. The council condemned the interference of some countries in the internal affairs of some Arab countries or occupation of any part of their territories under any pretext. It also denounced the Turkish interference in Libya. The council thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman for the initiatives of the Islamic joint action and their support for efforts to establish peace and harmony around the world. The council announced the establishment of the MWL Islamic Jurisprudence Award and the Makkah Charter's Award, with a total value of SR1 million. Al-Issa announced the prizes in a press conference held on the sidelines of the session. Speaking on the occasion, he lauded the great efforts of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman in promoting the Islamic causes and confronting extremism and terrorism. "This is in addition to the humanitarian actions around the world, as well as the moderate Islamic discourse pursued by the Kingdom, in particular the Kingdom's global platforms to fight extremist thought and Islamophobia." Sheikh Al-Issa said that the Makkah Charter was the brainchild of the Crown Prince who supported and followed up in all its phases until its adoption," he said, adding that Makkah Charter Award will be granted to individuals and institutions that have played a great role internationally to implement the principles highlighted in the charter or carried out comprehensive studies in this regard.
