Forum of Iraqi Scholars in Makkah Launches New Stage for Peaceful Coexistence

 Dr. Muhammad Al-Issa with guests and representatives of the Iraqi scholars in Mecca on Wednesday (Asharq Al-Awsat).
Dr. Muhammad Al-Issa with guests and representatives of the Iraqi scholars in Mecca on Wednesday (Asharq Al-Awsat).
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Forum of Iraqi Scholars in Makkah Launches New Stage for Peaceful Coexistence

 Dr. Muhammad Al-Issa with guests and representatives of the Iraqi scholars in Mecca on Wednesday (Asharq Al-Awsat).
Dr. Muhammad Al-Issa with guests and representatives of the Iraqi scholars in Mecca on Wednesday (Asharq Al-Awsat).

The Iraqi Scholars Forum, which was held in Makkah on Wednesday, endorsed the establishment of a joint coordinating committee that brings together Islamic spiritual clerics and the Muslim World League to follow up on the initiatives of the forum and promote coordination between the scholars in the coming stage.

The final statement included 11 items that focused on rationalizing religious fatwas to achieve the purposes of legislation in preserving the five necessities, “religion, soul, mind, honor and money” at the individual and societal levels.

The final statement for the forum, which was held under the auspices of the Muslim World League, stipulated opening channels of constructive dialogue and positive communication between scholars to address emerging issues and renewed crises.

The statement also stressed the importance of spreading common values brought by Islamic Sharia to build the nation, achieve citizenship, spread the spirit of tolerance, peaceful coexistence, mutual respect and moderation, and reject extremism and fanaticism.

The participants thanked the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, for their efforts in sponsoring initiatives that promote peaceful coexistence and civilized dialogue and confront extremism and violence in the Arab and Islamic worlds, including Iraq.

The Secretary-General of the Muslim World League, Dr. Muhammad Al-Issa, stressed the importance to maintain fraternal understanding, optimal coexistence, cooperation and integration between Sunnis and Shiites, while respecting the particularity of each sect within the religion of Islam.

Mr. Muhammad Ali Bahr al-Ulum, who spoke on behalf of the Shiite clerics, said that moderation was one of the most beautiful characteristics of the Iraqi nation, with a doctrine and Sharia that make it able to achieve the balance required for the progress of mankind. This characteristic does not mean inclusion and closure, he underlined.

He added that the challenge faced by Muslims in general, and in Iraq in particular, was to achieve moderation and counter the manifestations of violence that unfortunately take the Islamic religion as a cover.



GCC Renews Mandate of Jasem Albudaiwi as Secretary-General

Secretary General of GCC’s Council, Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi.
Secretary General of GCC’s Council, Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi.
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GCC Renews Mandate of Jasem Albudaiwi as Secretary-General

Secretary General of GCC’s Council, Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi.
Secretary General of GCC’s Council, Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi.

The Supreme Council of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) on Sunday renewed the appointment of Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi as its Secretary-General for another three years, starting February 1, 2026.
“The decision is in appreciation of Albudaiwi’s great efforts and effective contribution to strengthening the Council's progress, wishing him success in his duties during the coming period,” said the final statement issued during the Council’s 45th session, held in Kuwait.
Albudaiwi officially assumed the role of Secretary General on February 1, 2023, succeeding Dr. Nayef Falah M. Al Hajraf.
Before his appointment in 2023, Albudaiwi was ambassador of Kuwait to the United States.
He was born on February 22, 1968, and earned a Diploma in Diplomatic Studies from the University of Oxford in 1993. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, which he completed in 1991.
Throughout his career, he held several prominent positions, including Kuwait's Ambassador to the US from 2022 to 2023. He also served as non-resident Ambassador to Luxembourg (2017-2022), Head of Mission to the European Union (2017-2022), Head of Mission to NATO (2016-2022), Ambassador to Belgium (2016-2022), and Ambassador to South Korea (2013-2016).
Albudaiwi is the seventh Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, which was established on May 25, 1981.
Kuwaiti Abdullah Bishara served as the Council’s Secretary-General from 1981 to 1993, followed by the UAE’s Fahim Al-Qasimi (1993-1996), Saudi Arabia’s Jamil Al-Hejailan (1996-2002), Qatar’s Abdulrahman Al-Attiyah (2002-2011), Bahrain’s Abdullatif Al-Zayani (2011-2020), and Kuwaiti Nayef Al-Hajraf (2020-2023).