Muslim World League Asserts the Importance of Promoting 'Constructive' Dialogue

Egyptian Mufti Shawki Allam gifting the Muslim World League (MWL), Mohammed al-Issa, the shield of the General Secretariat for Fatwa Authorities Worldwide (Egyptian Dar al-Iftaa)
Egyptian Mufti Shawki Allam gifting the Muslim World League (MWL), Mohammed al-Issa, the shield of the General Secretariat for Fatwa Authorities Worldwide (Egyptian Dar al-Iftaa)
TT

Muslim World League Asserts the Importance of Promoting 'Constructive' Dialogue

Egyptian Mufti Shawki Allam gifting the Muslim World League (MWL), Mohammed al-Issa, the shield of the General Secretariat for Fatwa Authorities Worldwide (Egyptian Dar al-Iftaa)
Egyptian Mufti Shawki Allam gifting the Muslim World League (MWL), Mohammed al-Issa, the shield of the General Secretariat for Fatwa Authorities Worldwide (Egyptian Dar al-Iftaa)

The Secretary-General of the Muslim World League (MWL), Mohammed al-Issa, reiterated the importance of the solidarity of religious institutions, which helps promote constructive dialogue and understanding between people.

The Sec-Gen met the Egyptian Mufti Shawki Allam on the sidelines of the Building Bridges Between East and West Forum at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

Issa asserted that cooperation between religious institutions promotes tolerance and coexistence.

He noted that through continuous communication and exchanging experiences and knowledge, the institutions could contribute to presenting a tolerant and balanced religious vision of current global challenges.

The Mufti stated that cooperation and coordination between religious institutions boost people's religious awareness, spread peace and tolerance, and correct misinformation propagated by extremism and militancy groups.

He stressed boosting joint efforts enhancing communication and understanding between peoples, and promoting human values, asserting that it is the best way to achieve global peace and societal stability.

Allam said during the meeting that the fatwa must be based on the scientific methodology, the legal rooting of peace, and the awareness of contemporary reality, according to a statement to the Egyptian Dar al-Iftaa.

Allam explained that Dar al-Iftaa has a pioneering experience in training and qualifying muftis through three-year programs.

Egypt's Dar al-Iftaa trains several scholars to become religious figures in their home countries.

The exchange of experiences between religious institutions contributes to expanding knowledge and mutual understanding of religious and social issues and enables religious institutions to benefit from each other's experiences, develop work methods, and address current challenges.

Allam gifted Issa the shield of the "General Secretariat for Fatwa Authorities Worldwide" in appreciation for his efforts in promoting global peace and understanding.

Mufti's advisor Ibrahim Najm stated that the Mufti would meet several UN leaders to build communication and cooperation bridges and set joint practical goals and programs to enhance communication and knowledge sharing to confront Islamophobia, hate speech, and extremism.



Widespread Protests in Southern Iraq over Arrest of Activists

Crowds of protesters in central Nasiriyah demanding the dismissal of the police chief (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Crowds of protesters in central Nasiriyah demanding the dismissal of the police chief (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT

Widespread Protests in Southern Iraq over Arrest of Activists

Crowds of protesters in central Nasiriyah demanding the dismissal of the police chief (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Crowds of protesters in central Nasiriyah demanding the dismissal of the police chief (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The city of Nasiriyah, the center of Dhi Qar province in southern Iraq, has recently witnessed large-scale protests, peaking on Friday night. The number of demonstrators is expected to rise following calls from activists to escalate against the local authorities.

Protesters are calling for the dismissal of the city’s police chief and the release of detainees, according to activists. The unrest was triggered by the new police chief, Major General Najah Al-Abadi, who launched widespread arrests of wanted individuals over the past two weeks.

Political sources in Baghdad are expressing concern over the severity of the situation in Nasiriyah, fearing that unrest could spread to other provinces, especially amid the sensitive conditions in the region due to the ongoing Israeli war.

Local and security authorities in the province have justified the arrests, claiming they were carried out under judicial warrants for suspects. However, protest groups accuse the new police chief, who hails from Najaf and is close to the Badr Organization led by Hadi Al-Amiri, of targeting activists from the protest movement that erupted in Oct. 2019. Nasiriyah was a key stronghold of that movement, which lasted for over a year.

According to civil organizations, around 180 protesters were killed and over 5,000 were injured in Dhi Qar during the 2019 Tishreen Protests. On Friday, security forces stormed the protest site in Al-Habboubi Square, leading to injuries among both protesters and police. Police reported that three officers and 19 police members were injured, while activists claim many protesters were also hurt. However, many of them avoided hospitals, fearing arrest or legal repercussions.

The Iraqi Ministry of Interior has emphasized the need to protect demonstrators in Dhi Qar but rejected what it called “unacceptable methods” of protest. Ministry spokesperson Brigadier General Muqdad Miri stated during a Saturday press conference that the ministry “will not allow tire burnings, road blockages, or attacks on public property,” stressing that the authority of the state and the law “will prevail in Dhi Qar.”

Miri also disclosed that security forces had arrested 578 individuals, most of whom, he claimed, were not protesters.

Activists and protest groups present a different narrative, accusing “influential political parties” of being behind the recent escalation in Nasiriyah. Three activists told Asharq Al-Awsat that these parties had pushed government agencies to target those wanted by law, conflating criminal suspects with individuals involved in protests. One activist pointed out that the timing of the arrest campaign, coinciding with the seventh anniversary of the Tishreen Movement, underscores the political motives behind it.