MWL Sec-Gen: Misunderstanding One of the Main Reasons for 'Islamophobia'

The Secretary-General of the Muslim World League (MWL), Sheikh Mohammad al-Issa, at the conference in Islamabad (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Secretary-General of the Muslim World League (MWL), Sheikh Mohammad al-Issa, at the conference in Islamabad (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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MWL Sec-Gen: Misunderstanding One of the Main Reasons for 'Islamophobia'

The Secretary-General of the Muslim World League (MWL), Sheikh Mohammad al-Issa, at the conference in Islamabad (Asharq Al-Awsat)
The Secretary-General of the Muslim World League (MWL), Sheikh Mohammad al-Issa, at the conference in Islamabad (Asharq Al-Awsat)

The Secretary-General of the Muslim World League (MWL), Sheikh Mohammad al-Issa, has said that contentious debates and misunderstandings led to the emergence and development of Islamophobia.

Issa was speaking at the Pakistan International Conference on “Islamophobia and its Impact on Relations between Islamic and Western Civilizations,” hosted by the International Islamic University.

He said that MWL has contacted several religious leaders and think tanks worldwide and held dialogues and discussions to clarify the image of Islam and correct some misconceptions.

MWL sought to explain some methods, whether done deliberately or out of ignorance, to tarnish the image of Islam and clarify wrong practices that are mistakenly considered Islamic.

The Sec-Gen asserted that Islam conveyed goodness and guidance for all and came as an enabler and a messenger.

The conference granted Issa the Peace Award in recognition of his contributions to promoting dialogue and limiting the spread of misinformation about Islam.

The meeting of religious leaders was hosted by the Pakistan Ulema Council (PUC). Religious leaders and senior scholars attended it.

It is the first of its kind event in the country and was attended by Sheikh Issa, who described the meeting as “an occasion for understanding, dialogue, and building bridges.”



Egypt Tightens Measures to Prevent Another Crisis of Illegal Hajj Pilgrims

Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz meets with Egyptian Ambassador to the Kingdom Ehab Abou Srei in Riyadh. (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz meets with Egyptian Ambassador to the Kingdom Ehab Abou Srei in Riyadh. (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
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Egypt Tightens Measures to Prevent Another Crisis of Illegal Hajj Pilgrims

Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz meets with Egyptian Ambassador to the Kingdom Ehab Abou Srei in Riyadh. (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)
Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz meets with Egyptian Ambassador to the Kingdom Ehab Abou Srei in Riyadh. (Egyptian Foreign Ministry)

Egypt is intensifying its measures to prevent another crisis of illegal Hajj pilgrims, which had taken place in 2024 when thousands of people exploited visas to enter Saudi Arabia to illegally perform the Hajj.

Egyptian authorities had warned companies against flying travelers without the right visa. Coordination and communication are ongoing with Saudi authorities over the issue.

Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz received in Riyadh Egyptian Ambassador to the Kingdom Ehab Abou Srei for talks on the measures Cairo is taking ahead of the upcoming Hajj season to avoid another crisis.

Egypt has formed a committee, headed by the prime minister, to manage the Hajj crisis.

A statement from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday said the ambassador stressed that firm measures will be taking against companies that commit violations related to the Hajj.

Last week, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi formed a “crisis cell” that has referred 16 officials from a tourism company to the general prosecution for Hajj violations.

Egyptian authorities have hailed Saudi Arabia for providing all forms of support to legal pilgrims during the Hajj.

Member of the parliamentary tourism committee Ahmed Idriss said state agencies have taken measures to avert a new Hajj crisis in 2025.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, he said efforts have focused on combating fake entities that claim to be organizing Hajj trips, and on coordinating with Saudi authorities to crackdown on violators.