OIC Contact Group Commends the Saudi Call for Dialogue Between the Yemeni Parties

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Contact Group on the situation in Yemen, at its meeting held at the United Nations headquarters, appreciated the invitation of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for dialogue between the Yemeni parties to discuss the recent events that took place in the cities of Aden, Abyan and Shabwa in August 2019, and the response of the Yemeni parties to the invitation out of concern for everyone to act quickly to resolve differences and resume the peace process to reach a comprehensive settlement. Secretary General, Dr. Yousef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen pointed out that the OIC General Secretariat is closely following the Yemeni, regional and international efforts related to the Yemeni crisis and ways to activate the peace process which is unfortunately blocked by the Houthi militias by continuing the military escalation both inside The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has called on the international community to accelerate its efforts to provide crucial assistance to the people of Jammu and Kashmir to realize their legitimate rights. On September 25, 2019, the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir held a ministerial meeting on the sidelines of the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Secretary General of the OIC Dr. Yousef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen said in his speech to the meeting, “this contact group held an emergency meeting on August 6, 2019 at the level of permanent delegates in Jeddah, in the wake of the unilateral actions undertaken by the Indian government to cancel Article (370) of the Indian constitution, which included the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. On the sidelines of the General Assembly, the OIC held several meetings at the level of foreign ministers of the organization’s contact groups on peace and dialogue, Muslims in Europe, the aggression of the Republic of Armenia on the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the situation in Sierra Leone. The organization also held two meetings at the level of foreign ministers of the orYemen and on its borders. The Secretary General emphasized that the organization strongly condemns all provocative actions by those militias, especially military actions on the Yemeni-Saudi border, ganization’s contact groups concerned with the situation in Mali and Bosnia and Herzegovina. In his speech to the meeting of the Contact Group on Mali, which was delivered on his behalf by the Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs, Ambassador Yousef Aldobeay, the Secretary General of the organization stressed that although the security situation in Mali is alarming, important steps were taken last year to implement a broken

targeting cities, civilians, and installations inside Saudi territory, as well as commercial ships off the Bab al-Mandab strait and the Red Sea, which constitutes a threat to inter

national maritime navigation. peace agreement signed by the government and armed groups in 2015. The Secretary General also stressed the organization’s commitment to support Somalia in line with the decisions of the Islamic Summit and the Council of Foreign Ministers, to achieve the goals of the National Development Plan for Somalia. This came in a speech of the Secretary General before the high-level meeting on Somalia, which was held at the United Nations Headquarters.

At the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) met with the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. The two sides held a discussion session in which they expressed satisfaction with the existing relations between the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the United Nations, and the importance of enhancing fruitful cooperation in various fields was emphasized. The talks touched on many principles and values that the two organizations share, such as dialogue, tolerance, combatting hatred, extremism and terrorism, as well as contributing to the promotion of international peace and security. Al-Othaimeen also met with the Prime Minister of Norway, Mrs. Erna Solberg, on the sidelines of the General Assembly. The two sides discussed a number of issues of common concern. The Secretary General informed the Prime Minister of the organization’s efforts in

the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia represented by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, which follows up closely the humanitarian developments related to the mass displacement of the Muslim Rohingya minority and provides them with the much needed support. Al-Othaimeen praised the announcement of the former Saudi Foreign Minister, Dr. Ibrahim Al-Assaf of the Kingdom’s donation of ten million dollars to meet the needs of the Rohingya refugees. The Secretary General said at the event organized by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on September 24, 2019, on the sidelines of the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, “we are meeting here to discuss the sad tragedy of the Muslim Rohingya minority in Myanmar, which has forced a large number of Rohingya to The General Secretariat of the Organizalighted the issue of humanitarian needs, tries or to faraway places. “ tion of Islamic Cooperation (OIC ) intensipraising the efforts and generosity of the On the other hand, the Secretary-General fied its efforts, on the sidelines of the UN People’s Republic of Bangladesh in hosting participated in the side event organized by General Assembly, to find solutions to the over a million refugees on its soil and proBangladesh in New York, attended by Sheikh crisis of the Muslim Rohingya minority. In viding them with humanitarian assistance. Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh. this context, the organization held a minisThe Secretary-General expressed his appreThe OIC General Secretariat participated in terial meeting of the OIC Contact Group on ciation to the Member States that have prothe ministerial meeting on the humanitarian Rohingya and another ministerial meeting vided financial and humanitarian assistance crisis in Yemen, organized by the Permanent of the organization’s ministerial committee to the Rohingya refugees, including the Delegate of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to on follow-up to the human rights situation Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Indonesia, the United Nations, the Permanent Mission and violence against the Muslim Rohingya Jordan, Malaysia, the Kingdom of Morocco, of the United States and the United Nations minority. Pakistan, Turkey and the United Arab EmirOffice for the Coordination of Humanitarian In his speech to the contact group, the ates, among others. Affairs, on the sidelines of the 74th session Secretary General of the organization, Dr. Al-Othaimeen expressed the organizaof the United Nations General Assembly Yousef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen, hightion’s deep gratitude and appreciation to held in New York. Meetings on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly

flee from their homes to neighboring counthis area, including what the organization’s Voice of Wisdom Center is doing. On the other hand, the Secretary General met the President of the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, the Permanent Representative of Nigeria, Mr. Tijjani Mohamed Bande. He congratulated Mr. Tijjani on his election as President of the General Assembly for the current session. Al-Othaimeen also met the United Nations High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations (UNOAC) Mr. Miguel Angel Moratinos. The two sides reviewed ways to build a partnership that brings together the organization and the alliance to implement programs and projects in various fields of common concern.

Deputy Chair of Caucasus Muslims Board The 12th Sheikh-ul-Islam of the Caucasus Muslims Board, Allahshukur Hummat oglu Pashazadeh is world-famous religious leader and public figure, and one of highly influential personalities at the international community, especially in the Islamic world. Allahshukur Pashazadeh, in his religious, scientific and socio-political capacity to addressing global challenges of the 20th and 21st centuries, is the supreme Muslim religious leader for the entire Caucasus region. His activity should be evaluated through that actual historical features and the sequence of facts. Thus, this is a great chronicle, when young Sheikh-ul-Islam elected as the Head of the Religious Instution during the atheistic regime of the Soviet state brought the flag-raising mission of the Muslim world to the period of Azerbaijan’s independence. It should be noted that since the Sheikhul-Islam’s earliest times function coincided with the collapse of the Soviet regime, Allahshukur Pashazadeh was a true witness and active participant in various political events. As he involved to negotiations with Afghan spiritual leaders during the Soviet Army›s invasion of Afghanistan, His Virtue was recognized with his valuable contribution to peacemaking process. At His Virtue’s initiative and with the support of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, the international Islamic conference «Muslims in the Struggle For Peace» was held in Baku in 1986, attended by more than 600 delegates from 60 countries. Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazadeh has also value added to his capacity a noble mission of the Ambassador of Peace to address the annexation of Azerbaijani lands, the forced migration of hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijani refugees, the occupation of Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding areas as a consequence of the Armenian agression against Azerbaijan since 1988. His Virtue has repeatedly held meetings with Russian, Georgian, Armenian religious leaders and heads of international religious organizations and invited Armenian leaders to constructive dialogue on the NagornoKarabakh conflict between Armenia and

Azerbaijan. Sheikh-ul-Islam consistently demonstrates goodness and promotes the idea of interfaith dialogue and cooperation, tolerance and multicultural relations between nations and states to advocating friendship and cooperation in this regard. He initiated and organized many international events and scientific conferences in Baku. In 1998 at Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazadeh’s initiative an international conference on «Contemporary and religious and spiritual values» was held in Baku. Allahshukur Pashazadeh was also the Chair of the international conferences on «Grace of God, the Savior of the People» in 2003, «Globalization and Islam» in 2004, «Islam in a Globalized World», in 2006, «The Tolerance Model – Azerbaijan» in 2013, «CIS Countries for Peace and Sustainable Development,» in 2014, and «Strengthening Religious Tolerance: (Azerbaijani Model, Challenges of the OSCE Region and Beyond) in 2015. As Co-Chair of the Interfaith Council of the Commonwealth of Independent States, Allahshukur Pashazadeh called the International Forum on “Cooperation for Peace in the Caucasus” in 2002 in Tbilisi, International Religious Peace Forum in 2004 in Moscow,the Moscow Summit of World Religious Leaders in 2006, Baku Summit of World Religious Leaders in 2010. Referring to the importance of religious education in the era of globalization in 2015 together with the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, Sheikh-ul-Islam called for an international conference on «Islamic Enlightenment and Modernity”. In 2016, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev declared the Year of Multiculturalism, then 2017 – the Year of Islamic Solidarity in Azerbaijan. In this context, a number of international events dedicated to the improvement of the interfaith and inter-civilizational dialogue was held in Azerbaijan, as well as in the other countries – Finland, Sweden, Iran, Turkey, Spain, Russia and Uzbekistan. Thanks to his scientific contributions to the field of propagation and promotion of Islamic knowledge, Allahshukur Pashazadeh in 1986 is a Corresponding Member of the Jordanian Royal Academy of Islamic Culture and in 2001 a Member of the International Fiqh Academy, since its year of establishment from 2008 Co-Founder of the International Fiqh Organization. The Government of Azerbaijan highly appreciated Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazadeh’s services to the people of Azerbaijan. His Virtue was awarded with the high honors of Azerbaijan, such as the Order of Glory, the Independence, the Honorary Diploma of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and, this year, the highest honor of the Azerbaijani State, “Heydar Aliyev” Order on occassion of his 70th anniversary birthdate and the 40th anniversary of his activity as the Sheikh-ul-Islam of Caucasus. The global major powers and religious organizations highly appreciated the Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazadeh’s diversified contributions with the many highest awards. Closely involved in addressing the fate of the Azerbaijani people today, not only in the Muslim world, but also in the global social and political processes Sheikh-ul-Islam Allahshukur Pashazadeh does not spare his efforts on this light path.

The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Dr. Yousef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen, received, on October 13, 2019, in his office, Mr. Shaheen Abdullah, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Permanent Representative of Azerbaijan to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. During the meeting and discussions on commemorating the centenary of the establishment of the diplomatic service in the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Azerbaijani Ambassador presented the medal awarded by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Mr. Elmar Mammadyarov to His Excellency the Secretary General in appreciation of the role he plays at the head of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and his efforts in strengthening relations between the Organization and Azerbaijan.

The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Dr. Yousef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen, held on 25 November 2019 at the headquarters of the General Secretariat, meetings with their Excellencies Mr. Chingiz Aidarbekov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, Mr. Amadou Ba, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Senegal, and Mr. Abdullah Shahid, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Maldives. The Secretary General appreciated the participation of the ministers of the member states in the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the organization,

and stressed that this participation reflects the extent of interest and the special position that the Organization of Islamic Cooperation occupies in the member states. The Secretary General also received, on the same day, the German Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Niels Annen. During the meeting, both sides expressed satisfaction over the fruitful relations between the OIC and Germany, and views were exchanged on possible ways of strengthening them further.

Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Dr. Yousef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen, held talks with His Eminence Sheikh Rawi Ayn Al-Din, Chairman of the Council of Muftis and Head of the Religious Department of the Muslims of the Russian Federation, on November 7, 2019, at the headquarters of the OIC General Secretariat in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Sheikh Ayn Al-Din conveyed the greetings of His Excellency President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to the Secretary General and the desire of the Russian leadership to further develop and strengthen relations with the Islamic world. For his part, the Secretary General expressed his appreciation of the Russian leadership and the importance of strengthening Russian relations with the Islamic world, especially since more than 25 million Muslims live in Russia in the context of a diverse and tolerant environment. On the other hand, Dr. Yousef Al-Othaimeen received a letter from Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, congratulating the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on the fiftieth anniversary of its founding.

Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Dr. Yousef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen, On December 2, 2019, received in his office, Mr. Mohamed Mahdi Goulaid, the Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia and his accompanying delegation. The Secretary General affirmed the organization’s readiness to continue its support for security, stability and development in Somalia, in line with the decisions issued by the Council of Foreign Ministers and the recent Islamic Summit in Makkah Al Mukarramah.

The Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian, Cultural and Social Affairs, Ambassador Tarig Ali Bakheet, held, on 27 October 2019 at the General Secretariat, discussions with a visiting delegation from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) led by Mrs. Mia Beers, Division Director at the Humanitarian Policy and Global Engagement at the Office of the US Foreign Disaster Assistance.

Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Dr. Yousef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen, received in his office on December 5, 2019, the former Secretary General of the Organization, Dr. Hamid AlGhabid. The two sides reviewed the achievements made by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation as it celebrates its fiftieth anniversary, exploring the prospects for the future of joint Islamic action to achieve the goals of the organization and to serve the interests of its member states and peoples.

OIC Secretary General, Dr. Yousef A. AlOthaimeen, received on 2nd December 2019, in his office in Jeddah, Ambassador Rizwan Saeed Sheikh who presented to him his accreditation papers as the permanent representative of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to the OIC. The Secretary General welcomed Ambassador Rizwan, wished him full success in his mission and assured him of the OIC’s commitment to the promotion of its relations and bilateral cooperation with the Republic of Pakistan. The two sides also seized on the occasion to discuss issues of common interest.

Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Dr. Yousef AlOthaimeen, in his office on 4 December 2019, received Maldivian Ambassador Mohamed Khalil who presented his credentials as the Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the OIC. Talks during the audience centered on issues of shared interest, and ways to boost cooperation between the OIC and the Republic of Maldives.

The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Dr, Yousef A. Al-Othaimeen, in his office on 20 November 2019, received the Ambassador of Malaysia to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Dato’ Abd Razak Abdul Wahab, as he presented his credentials as Malaysia’s Permanent Repre

sentative to the OIC. Talks during the audience centered on issues of shared interest, and ways to boost cooperation between the OIC and Malaysia.

Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), H.E. Dr Yousef A. Al-Othaimeen, received in his office, on 14 October 2019, Amb. Kamel Bachir Dahan who presented his letters of credence as Permanent Representative of the State of Libya to the OIC. The Secretary General welcomed Amb. Dahan and the two parties shared views on issues of common interest and ways to promote relations between the OIC and Libya.

Whoever would love to enjoy the sight of lush green, virgin beauty, pristine waters, rich and colorful history and many other natural wonders, legendary generosity and boundless hospitality must go to Baku, the gateway to the Caucasus and the pearl of the Caspian Sea. There are different theories and stories for the origin of the name of Baku, the city that lies on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, alongside the Bay of Baku. But a popular etymology explains the name as derived from Persian بادکوبه) Bâd-kube, meaning «wind-pounded city», a compound of bād, «wind», and kube, which is rooted in the verb کوبیدن kubidan, «to pound», thus referring to a place where wind would be strong and pounding, as is the case of the coastal Caucasian city of Baku, which is known to experience fierce winter snow storms and harsh winds. A uniquely charming fusion of old and new, Baku has wildly varying architecture, ranging from the old city to modern buildings. There is also the tolerant manner of life of its people. The city also provides vibrant greenery for everyone to enjoy. Traces of human settlement in Baku go back to the Stone Age and Bronze Age. Baku has countless historical places to visit.

As the city proudly displays its love to its visitors, so it has offered its love to Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid, for how beautiful when love breeds creative artistic ideas to convey a message. Recognized as a cultural and architectural landmark not only in Baku but also in the world at large, Zaha Hadid’s Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku has won the London Design Museum’s Design of the Year in 2014. Situated in the heart of Baku over a surface area of 57,000 square meters, the 80-meter tall architectural masterpiece looks like a ballet dancer wearing white in a snowy winter, an oriental musical instrument playing a dreamy melody, or a beautiful woman with a gentle breeze in her hair. Speaking of this edifice, completed in 2013 after almost

6 years of work, Zaha Hadid said: “It is my latest work, the culmination of 30 years of research resulting in this architectural edifice that embodies cross-cultural innovation and inspiration.” The Center houses a theatre, a conference hall (auditorium), a gallery and a museum. The museum and gallery honor the legacy of the country’s great leader, late Heydar Aliyev, and provide illustrated information about the bloody crimes committed by Armenians in Khojaly and Nagorno-Karabakh. A Museum of History and Civilization (National Museum of History of Azerbaijan) Located in Baku, in the former mansion of Azerbaijani oil magnate Hajji Zeynalabidin Taghiyev, the National Museum of History of Azerbaijan takes visitors into an amazing journey through a legacy of fine artwork and crafts retracing the rich and vibrant history of the Azerbaijani people. The palace itself is a unique architectural masterpiece, built by Azerbaijani national oil industrialist and philanthropist Hajji Zeynalabidin Taghiyev (1823-1924) in the second half of the 19th century and early 20th century. Taghiyev was a talented entrepreneur and philanthropist who invested his wealth in countless projects that benefited Azerbaijan, sponsoring scientific and artistic activities, encouraging and aiding Azerbaijani students to carry on their studies abroad. He built Azerbaijan’s first school of agricultural engineering (1894), sponsored the construction of the first Azerbaijani national theatre (1883), provided funds to build the first Muslim school for girls in the country (1901), and helped finance the Shollar water pipeline supplying water to Baku residents (1917).

An important piece of Azerbaijani history, the Shirvanshahs Palace is a 15th-century Palace built by the Shirvanshahs on the shores of the Caspian Sea, and used it as a summer resort. The constructions of the Palace occupy almost 1 hectare.

The Palace ensemble, located in the center of the old city of Baku on a high hill overlooking the sea, consists of several buildings: the main body of the Palace, the Divankhane (Courthouse), the tomb of the Shirvanshahs’ family, the Shah Mosque, the tomb of Seyid Yahya Bakyvi, a water tank, and the remains of the Palace bathhouse. A wonderful architectural masterpiece, the Palace is one of the most beautiful tourist sites in Baku. It served as a venue for the Shah’s receptions for high-ranking delegations, ministers and dignitaries. Palace of Happiness (or Saadat Sarayi in Azerbaijani) The Serail was built in the old Neo-Gothic style of the European world of the Middle Ages in the early 20th century (between 1911 and 1912) by Azerbaijani oil magnet Murtuza Mukhtarov, of Jewish origin, for his wife Liza-Khanum. It was designed along the lines of a palace in Vienna (Austria). On 2 August 2001, the building was listed as real estate of historic and state importance. It was reopened to the public on 5 July 2012, after major overhaul and restoration.

Baku has very neat and clean silver sand beaches on the shore of the Caspian Sea for tourists to enjoy. Here are some of the best beaches in Baku: Shikhov Beach Located in the heart of Baku, Shikhov beach is one of the cleanest beaches of Baku, free from pollution. Mambo Beach Mambo Beach is one of the most beautiful and famous beaches of Baku. It is a family

friendly destination. SeaZone Beach The beach offers clean silver sand and smooth water.

Located on Mikayil Huseynov street in the heart of Baku, on the coastline of the Caspian Sea, the museum was established in 1967. It was the first museum in the world dedicated to carpets, and is recognized as one of the world’s leading carpet museums. The museum houses a large collection of rare carpets and carpet items of the country’s most valuable heritage. The structure of the building was designed to look like a rolled carpet.

One of the important Islamic cultural landmarks in Baku, the Islamic Studies Centre (Irshad) was established in 1990 to serve Islam and Muslims, and explain Islam’s teachings to Muslims in an accessible manner and with moderation. The Centre is a leading beacon of knowledge and moderation not only in Azerbaijan but also for the whole Caspian and Caucasus region.

Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Dr. Yousef A. AlOthaimeen hailed the signing of the Riyadh agreement between the Yemeni legitimacy Government and the Transitional Council on 5th November 2019, in the presence of HRH Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, Crown Prince, Deputy Head of the Ministerial Council and Minister of Defense, along with H.E. President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi and Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nehyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Military Chief of Staff. The OIC Secretary General affirmed that this agreement would contribute to the consolidation of Yemen’s security and stability Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Dr. Yousef AlOthaimeen has stressed that, the organization remains firmly committed to supporting peace, security, a lasting political settlement and development in Afghanistan. The Secretary General made these remarks in a statement delivered on his behalf by Ambassador Huseyin Avni Botsali, Permaand to a firmer stand, as a common front, against the Houthi militia. He further added that the agreement forms a precursor to a new stage on the way to the achievement of a radical settlement of the crises endorsed by the beloved Yemen, and that “Peaceful and Lasting Settlements in Yemen require international dedication and diligent action that places Yemen’s interest above every consideration”. Al-Othaimeen expressed the OIC’s profound gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its fruitful and valuable efforts in the consolidation of peace in the region and for its particular interest in the Yemeni situation, an interest which is so much indicative of nent Representative of the OIC in Afghanistan and Head of Kabul Office at the 8th Ministerial Conference of the “Heart of Asia” - Istanbul Process held in Istanbul, on 8-9 December 2019 under the theme “Peace, Partnership and Prosperity». In his statement, the Secretary also affirmed that the OIC is keen to support and cooperate with the rest of the international com

newed future for the country. The Secretary General’s address which was delivered on his behalf by the OIC Assistant Secretary General for political affairs, Amb. Yousef Al Dhobei, also included a fresh emphasis on the OIC’s office in Mogadishu keeping up its role in supporting Somalia’s implementation of its 2020 roadmap as well as its sustained focus on additional developmental and training programs within the Somali national development plan. The Secretary General renewed the OIC’s gratitude to the King Salman Centre for Relief and Humanitarian Action, for the support it has been extending to the OIC so as to enable it to forge ahead with its projects in Somalia, including a wide range of developmental and humanitarian actions. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation A. Al-Othaimeen, reaffirmed in his address the occasion with H.E. Mr. Hassen Ali Khairi, (OIC) participated in the Partnership Forum to the Forum his organization’s support to Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Sofor Somalia hosted in Mogadishu on 1-2 OcSomalia and evoked the particular emphamalia, who welcomed the OIC’s delegation tober 2019. sis placed on assisting the Somali people and paid tribute to the OIC for its interest The OIC Secretary General, H.E. Dr. Yousef and government in their drive to build a rein Somalia. Al-Othaimeen Congratulates Yemeni Parties on Signing the Riyadh Agreement

The OIC Assistant Secretary General met on the unwavering keenness of the Kingdom’s leadership to ensure Yemen’s stability and to stand by the brotherly people of Yemen. The Secretary General also expressed the OIC’s appreciation for the role played by the United Arab Emirates in the achievement of the Riyadh agreement, and commended all the Yemeni parties for their positive response and cooperation towards the attainment of a peaceful solution and an agreement that serves the strategic interests of Yemen. The Secretary General also congratulated the Yemeni President, Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, for his efforts in favour of the agree

ment. munity as they move toward building peace in Afghanistan. The Ministerial Conference of the “Heart of Asia” – Istanbul Process witnessed the participation of 31 countries, including 11 OIC Member States, as well as 9 international and regional organizations.

The city of Bissau boasts a number of important architectural and social landmarks. It also represents a space for coexistence despite the cultural diversity found in it. Bissau the Capital of Islamic Culture for 2019: The celebration of Bissau as the Capital of Islamic Culture in 2019, for the African region, is an opportunity to highlight the diversity and cultural richness of this city and discover its culture and historical monuments, and an occasion to introduce the human values of this city›s culture and its ancient history. Bissau is the capital of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, and its largest city. It is also a port on the Atlantic Ocean, specifically at the mouth of the Giba River and its confluence with the sea. It is the main port and administrative and military center of the country, with an estimated population of 355,000 people. Its economy is mainly dependent on agricultural products. Bissau Heritage and Landmarks: Islam is the predominant religion in GuineaBissau, where Muslims constitute 40 per cent (800.000) of its citizens. The total population of Guinea-Bissau is about 1.4 million, which makes Islam the faith with the largest number followers in the country. The credit of spreading Islam in the Guinea-Bissau region is attributed to the Fulani people, who settled in West Africa and established

a large kingdom in it during the fourteenth century AD that stretched from the Gambia River to the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. The Fulani were able to control the Kingdom of Mandi, and since they were subordinate to

the Almoravids, they spread Islam in the lands of the region that included what is known today as the state of Guinea-Bissau. The Fulani continued to control the region and spread Islam in it until the late nine

teenth century with the coming of colonialism that suppressed the Islamic movement in the region. Bissau History and Culture: Established in 1687 AD by the Portuguese, the city was a fortified port and a commercial center. Later, it became the capital of Portuguese Guinea in 1942. Following the proclamation of independence in 1973, «Madina de Boe» was declared as the capital of the autonomous region. However, Bissau remained the capital of the regions under Portuguese control in what was called (Portuguese Guinea). When Portugal recognized the independence of Guinea and withdrew its forces in 1974, the two regions (Portuguese Guinea and independent regions) merged and Bissau became the capital of the new state. Guinea-Bissau is famous for its annual carnival, and one of the attractions of tourists and foreigners is the Fortaleza Damurah fort, which includes the shrine of “Alicar Cabral”, which is one of the most prominent political faces in the country. We also find a memorial to the victims of the port of Guinea-Bissau. Many buildings were destroyed during the Civil War, including the Presidential Palace and the French Cultural Center, which is currently rebuilt and the city center is still under development.

The Second International Workshop on Promoting Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue in South and Southeast Asian Countries started in Jakarta, Indonesia, under the title «Together for Diversity and Promoting Interfaith and Intercultural Dialogue». The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) co-organized the workshop in partnership with King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID). The workshop witnessed the attendance of 65 participants from five South and Southeast Asian countries, as well as a number of political decision makers, religious leaders, and representatives of regional and international associations and organizations. In his speech, Dr. Yousef A. Al-Othaimeen, the OIC Secretary-General, indicated that, “‹Together for Diversity and Interreligious Dialogue› reflects our resolve and will to promote dialogue to resolve disputes and tensions. This international workshop comes at a time when societies in Southeast Asia encounter serious challenges, especially concerning Islamic-Buddhist relations.»

Al-Othaimeen added in his speech, delivered on his behalf by Mr. Bashir Ansari, Director of Dialogue and Outreach Department at the OIC General Secretariat, that religions have brought universal values, such as dignity, equality, fairness, justice and human rights. He stressed the need to respect followers of religions and provide them with appropriate conditions to practice their religious beliefs and rituals freely. The Secretary-General stressed that the OIC is committed to supporting interfaith and intercultural dialogue. He stated that the OIC Charter calls for supporting and adopting

the values of peace, harmony, understanding, coexistence and cooperation between peoples, contributing to maintaining international peace and security and encouraging friendly relations, good neighborliness and mutual respect. Al-Othaimeen pointed out that the OIC believes firmly that the diversity of cultures, civilizations and religions is not only a legitimate and recognized matter, but also an essential part of our world. He called for exerting efforts to facilitate understanding and visualization of cultures, civilizations and religions as a global human heritage. In the same context, he asserted that the OIC is committed to contribute effectively at various levels to enriching interfaith and

intercultural dialogue, resolving conflicts, alleviating the suffering of those affected and safeguarding human dignity. «The OIC accords these issues the highest priority in its vision as being essential components capable of improving human life and facilitating the acceptance of the other regardless of religion, ethnicity, color, language, and gender,» concluded the OIC Secretary-General. For two days, the participants discussed various topics on political, legislative, legal and social reforms, ways to address hate speech and violence, in addition to the challenges faced by governments in member states, regional and international organizations and religious institutions to confront extremism, intolerance, violence, hate and terrorism in Southeast Asia. They also discussed ways to ensure a balance between protecting freedom of expression, confronting hate speech and extremism. It is worth noting that the Organization of

Islamic Cooperation plays an active role in enriching dialogue between cultures and enhancing understanding between followers of religions and civilizations and takes this project as a priority in its programs and activities in member countries and globally, believing that hate speech does not affect one region in the world and is not related to one religion or a specific culture.

The Voice of Wisdom Center (Sawt Al-Hikma) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation succeeded in delivering its message against extremist thought calling for tolerance and moderation to 54 million people in various countries of the world, after it gained thousands of followers who are active through its website and social media accounts in three languages: Arabic and English and French. On its 3rd year anniversary, the Center said that it has decided from the beginning to focus its efforts mainly on cyberspace, after the Internet has become a fertile environment for various violent ideas and an incubator that serves as fertile ground for extremists and helps them spread their toxic ideology. The Center therefore launched 11 pages on various social media platforms in three languages, through which content prepared by specialists is published, to respond to claims of extremism and fatwas of violence in the name of religion on the one hand, and on the other hand to respond to Islamophobia advocates that are driven by people with right-wing backgrounds who espoused hatred for Muslim. The messages and publications of the center reached 54 million users across the various accounts in the three languages on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. The Center added that while it conducts its activities on social media, it did not lost sight of the fight against extremist ideology on the ground, as it held a number of conferences and seminars in Saudi Arabia, Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Dr. Yousef AlOthaimeen reiterated OIC’s concern over the continued rise of religious intolerance and hate speech, which continues to seriously jeopardize the lives of innocent people of different religious backgrounds, recent manifestations of which are the deadly incidents in New Zealand and Sri Lanka. In his written statement to the 7th Meeting of Istanbul Process held in The Hague, The Netherlands on 18-19 November 2019, the OIC Secretary welcomed the convening of the 7th Meeting after a gap of 3 years and Somalia, and the United Arab Emirates that focused on discussing the issue of terrorism and combating it, enhancing intellectual security, and spreading the values of tolerance. highlighted its importance for combating the threat of incitement to hatred based on religion. Dr. Othaimeen, underlined the crucial importance of collective efforts at international level to confront the maleficent phenomena, through multiple tools including the Istanbul Process, which draws upon the landmark UN HRC Resolution 16/18, which provides a comprehensive action plan to combat the unruly phenomena of incitement to hatred, discrimination and violence based on religion, faced globally by all States.

The Center also launched a short video contest named “tolerance of religion” for short video clips that encouraged young people

to express themselves through the camera. The Secretary General also welcomed the announcement by Pakistan to host the 8th meeting of Istanbul Process as an effort to contribute to the global efforts in raising awareness, sharing best practices and discussing best options on how to combat this global concern. The Meeting, hosted by the Netherlands, was held under the theme ‘Combating Religious Intolerance: Building inclusive and resilient societies, and pushing back against incitement to hatred and violence’.