MWL Secretary-General Meets With Governor of St. Petersburg

Governor of St. Petersburg Alexander Beglov receives Secretary General of the Muslim World League Dr. Mohammed al-Issa (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Governor of St. Petersburg Alexander Beglov receives Secretary General of the Muslim World League Dr. Mohammed al-Issa (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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MWL Secretary-General Meets With Governor of St. Petersburg

Governor of St. Petersburg Alexander Beglov receives Secretary General of the Muslim World League Dr. Mohammed al-Issa (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Governor of St. Petersburg Alexander Beglov receives Secretary General of the Muslim World League Dr. Mohammed al-Issa (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Secretary-General of the Muslim World League (MWL) Sheikh Dr. Mohammed al-Issa met with Governor of St. Petersburg Alexander Beglov.

They discussed means of boosting cooperation to consolidate concepts of tolerance, coexistence, and peace.

Following the meeting, Beglov hailed Issa’s lecture at St. Petersburg University and the subjects the latter has addressed, describing them as “important.”

“We recognize the great volume of your work and appreciate your global role in serving harmony and human peace,” Beglov said, praising MWL’s efforts.

He expressed hope to intensify efforts of joint cooperation and revive a number of MWL’s activities and conferences on Russian territory in coordination with relevant authorities.

Beglov also commended the importance of MWL’s presence in the capital of culture, St. Petersburg, to activate more inter-related meetings to achieve common goals.

Issa, for his part, praised the reception, stressing that the Russian Federation experience in harmony among various religious and ethnic diversity "represents a pioneering model worthy of praise and could be taught on a global level.”

He pointed to the importance of communication and dialogue to support means of cooperation in all fields in order to promote national integration programs, adding that successful experiences should be a source of inspiration for all.



France Expels Algerian Diplomats in Tit-for-tat Decision

This photograph shows the national flag of Algeria flying at the Algerian Embassy in Paris on May 14, 2025. (Photo by Kiran RIDLEY / AFP)
This photograph shows the national flag of Algeria flying at the Algerian Embassy in Paris on May 14, 2025. (Photo by Kiran RIDLEY / AFP)
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France Expels Algerian Diplomats in Tit-for-tat Decision

This photograph shows the national flag of Algeria flying at the Algerian Embassy in Paris on May 14, 2025. (Photo by Kiran RIDLEY / AFP)
This photograph shows the national flag of Algeria flying at the Algerian Embassy in Paris on May 14, 2025. (Photo by Kiran RIDLEY / AFP)

France said Wednesday it will expel Algerian diplomats in response to Algeria’s decision to do the same.

The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs said in a statement it had summoned Algerian officials to inform them of the decision, describing it as “strict reciprocity” after 15 French officials were expelled from Algiers on Sunday.

France called on Algerian authorities to “demonstrate responsibility and to return to a demanding and constructive dialogue that had been initiated by our authorities, in the interest of both countries.”

“The Algerians wanted to send back our agents; we are sending theirs back,” French Foreign Minister Noël Barrot said on Wednesday, speaking to French broadcaster BFMTV.

Algeria said it expelled French officials on Sunday because France had broken procedures, including in how it assigned new diplomats to replace a different set that were expelled last month.

Despite economic ties and security cooperation, France and Algeria for decades have clashed over issues ranging from immigration to the painful legacy of French colonialism.

Wednesday’s decision came as Kabyle opposition figure Aksel Bellabbaci walked free after a Paris appeals court shunned Algeria’s request to extradite him on terrorism charges.

The 42-year-old vice president of the Movement for the Self-Determination of Kabyle (MAK) has lived in France since 2012.