In the context of strengthening fraternal relations and unifying efforts to serve Islamic work, the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance, Sheikh Dr. Abdul Latif bin Abdul Aziz Al Sheikh, met today in his office in Jeddah Governorate with the head of the Sunni Endowment Office in the Republic of Iraq, Sheikh Amer Shaker Al-Janabi, and the delegation accompanying him, who are currently on an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Details of the meeting and discussions
The meeting included a comprehensive review of several issues of mutual interest, with discussions focusing on ways to develop mechanisms for bilateral cooperation in areas that serve Islam and Muslims. The two sides discussed the importance of exchanging expertise in mosque maintenance, printing copies of the Holy Quran, and organizing outreach programs that contribute to raising awareness of sound religious principles.
The Kingdom and the approach of moderation and centrism
During the meeting, Dr. Al-Sheikh reviewed the tireless efforts exerted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince – may God protect them – in serving the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors, and in caring for the Holy Quran through printing, publishing, and teaching. He emphasized that the Kingdom prioritizes spreading the values of moderation and combating extremist ideologies, as well as promoting the concepts of tolerance and peaceful coexistence. He noted that the Ministry operates according to a clear strategy to enhance cooperation with brotherly and friendly nations in a way that serves the causes of the Muslim Ummah and protects its youth from falling prey to extremism.
The importance of Saudi-Iraqi cooperation
This meeting comes amidst growing Saudi-Iraqi relations in recent years, which have witnessed remarkable development across various political, religious, and economic spheres. Cooperation between religious institutions in both countries holds significant strategic importance, given the Kingdom's status as the holiest site in Islam and Iraq's deep historical and cultural heritage. This joint coordination contributes to unifying moderate religious discourse in the region and addressing the intellectual challenges left by past conflicts, thereby strengthening regional stability and its intellectual and social security.
Iraqi praise for the Saudi role
For his part, the head of the Iraqi Sunni Endowment Office, Sheikh Amer al-Janabi, praised the leading role played by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in serving Islam and Muslims worldwide. Al-Janabi commended the programs and initiatives launched by the Ministry to disseminate the tolerant religious values that promote tolerance and reject extremism and fanaticism, emphasizing the Sunni Endowment Office's keenness to benefit from the pioneering Saudi experience in this field, in a way that serves the common interests of the two brotherly nations.
