Letter From the Editor A well-deserved win of King Faisal’s prize for Service to Islam The Makkah Charter has, in a very short Minister of Defense for his strenuous and ar- time, achieved a significant presence in the duous efforts throughout the period preceding entire world and represented an Islamic ref- the issuance of the Charter. The Crown Prince erence for human rights and dignity. Consid- was behind the idea of the Makkah Charter ered a historical constitution for peace and and the only supporter of it. This significant the values of moderation in Islamic countries, document includes all supreme and high val- the Charter was issued in a conference held ues of Islam for all humanity and is based on in the Holy City of Makkah, the cradle of the the proper and correct approach of religious heavenly message. It spread all over the world discourse. due to the sanctity of the place that embraced In a special statement on winning King the most sacred Charter that was lauded and Faisal Prize for Service to Islam,the Secretary welcomed by all international organizations. General said, “The Islamic discourse is based The Charter was among the most important on authenticity and modernity. The Makkah discussions, dialogues, and lectures held by Charter proved that the religious discourse is the Secretary General of the Muslim World renewed with sincere efforts of the scholars League(MWL) S heikh Dr. Muhammad bin of the Islamic nation.” Abdulkarim Al-Issa during his visits to most A council and a general secretariat, he countries of the world. added,had previously been formed to under- The Makkah C h arter managed to win take all its affairs, including its executive sta- King Faisal P rize for Service to Islam this tus, stressing that the MWL has emerged about year 1441 AH. The MWL praised this rec- sixty years ago in an institutional framework ognition, wh e reas Secretary General – in under the auspices of the Kingdom of Saudi the name oft h e muftis and scholars of the Arabia as a pioneer and guardian of Islamic Makkah Document-expressed deep apprecia- action. tion of winningKing Faisal Prize for Service Sheikh Dr. Al-Issa wished good health and to Islam. He, on behalf of one thousand two the best of success to the Custodian of the Two hundred muft i s and scholars who endorsed Holy Mosques and his Crown Prince for the and upheldthe Makkah Charter in its historic service of Islam, Muslims and all humanity. conference, e xtended gratitude toCustodian The King Faisal Prize is an affirmation of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin of beneficence and solidification of its prin- Abdulaziz Al Saudfor his generous sponsor- ciples. “The greater honor is that I have been ship of the conference. made a little soldier in the troop of servers of Sheikh Dr. Al-Issa, on behalf of all schol- Islam; the service of Islam is an honor to the ars, also thanked His Royal Highness Prince servant not satisfaction to the need of those Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, served. Islam needs no one, for it is mighty in Crown Prince , Deputy Prime Minister and its own right.” PB lJumad Al-Thani 1441/February 2020 l lJumad Al-Thani 1441/February 2020 l 1 No.6 MWL Conference in Croatia calls for promotion of security and peace Jumad Al-Thani 1441/February 2020 1441/February Al-Thani Jumad 4 Sheikh Dr. Al-Issa visits Srebrenica 12 massacre in Bosnia and Herzegovina Vol.48 2 lJumad Al-Thani 1441/February 2020 l lJumad Al-Thani 1441/February 2020 l 3 Croatian President commends the MWL’s international efforts 10 MWL and Italy’s Catholic University sign a cooperation agreement 16 2 lJumad Al-Thani 1441/February 2020 l lJumad Al-Thani 1441/February 2020 l 3 MWL Conference in Croatia calls for promotion of security and peace 4 lJumad Al-Thani 1441/February 2020 l lJumad Al-Thani 1441/February 2020 l 5 Zagreb - MWL The international conference, themed “Human Fraternity to Promote Security and Peace” organized by Muslim World League in the Croa- tian capital, Zagreb, stressed the importance of promoting the values of human unity as the most important pillars for achieving peace and social harmony in the world. 4 lJumad Al-Thani 1441/February 2020 l lJumad Al-Thani 1441/February 2020 l 5 Attended by the Republic of Croatia President, Mrs. Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović, the conference called for enacting the necessary leg- islation and regulations to criminalize all methods and practices of hatred, racism, marginalization and exclu- sion as a crime against hu- manity, homeland, the indi- vidual and the community. It also called for establish- ing a Zagreb-based global center for civilized commu- nication to act as a bridge for communication, dialogue, understanding and coopera- tion among all components of the human community. The center will launch initia- tives for promoting human President Kolinda delivered her speech at the opening of the conference and societal values. The President of Croatia launched the events of the around the world as well as In her speech, the Croa- international conference in Imams and representatives tian President said, “It is a collaboration with the Islam- of Islamic associations in particular honor for me to ic Body and Catholic Dio- the “Balkan countries” and sponsor a conference themed cese in Croatia together with high-ranking religious schol- ‘Human Fraternity’. It is an official representation from ars from different religions. initiative launched by the the Vatican State includ- The Croatian President Muslim World League in col- ing the Pontifical Council and the Secretary General of laboration with the Islamic for Interreligious Dialogue. the Muslim World League Body and Catholic Diocese The inauguration was at- Sheikh Dr. Muhammad bin in Croatia. This initiative is tended by the Prime Minis- Abdulkarim Al-Issa were an important opportunity for ter, Speaker of Parliament, honored for their strenuous us to promote peace and tol- a number of Croatian min- efforts in promoting toler- erance in the entire world”. isters, parliamentarians and ance and peace, in the pres- President Grabar- staff of the army and mayor ence of the Vice-President of Kitarović added that Allah of the capital together with the European Commission the Almighty created us di- some senior political, intel- who delivered a speech dur- versified in our cultures, re- lectual and religious leaders ing the conference. ligions, races and others so 6 lJumad Al-Thani 1441/February 2020 l lJumad Al-Thani 1441/February 2020 l 7 common values that are suf- ficient for establishing peace and harmony in today’s world, pointing out that the denominators of love, co- existence and tolerance be- come closer, stronger and more responsible when they are a national denominator together with the strength and importance of human denominator in general. Sheikh Dr. Al-Issa noted that today’s world would be more aware if it benefited from the sermon of the his- tory that invites it to the op- tion of wisdom through the positive and effective dia- logue in all topics together with working continuously The Croatian President honors Dr. Al-Issa on fostering mutual respect and activating values of love, forgiveness and tol- that we can cooperate in the en by materialism, absence of erance. Sheikh Dr. Al-Issa service of humanity. Based conscience and selfishness. said, “Our human diversity on the human unity that Al- Mrs. Kolinda concluded her should act as a source of lah wanted, the suffering of speech by saying: “Allah does great and comprehensive man is suffering for all hu- not ask us the impossible, but enrichment. The civilized manity. to serve others as we serve countries are proud of their The President praised the ourselves”. diversity, which strengthens positive Islamic presence in Sheikh Dr. Al-Issa and increases their identity. Croatia, stressing that this Is- stressed the importance of These countries should be lamic presence demonstrated adopting the values of hu- cautious against any interfer- at all stages that it belongs to man unity that cancel all ence targeting any of their the Croatian National Service negative barriers and bridge national components under regardless of the national af- their gaps. These human val- the pretext of religious or filiation. Grabar-Kitarović ues build bridges, facilitate ethnic reasons.” called for promoting values of dialogue understanding and Sheikh Dr. Al-Issa point- dialogue and respect in com- cooperation and strengthen ed out that the Muslim World munities so that they do not our resolve to solve all prob- League, in the name of thou- turn into isolated islands driv- lems. He said humanity has sands of Muslim scholars 6 lJumad Al-Thani 1441/February 2020 l lJumad Al-Thani 1441/February 2020 l 7 Side of the International Conference and thinkers and all Islamic peoples, are Zagreb together with all senior political, reli- keen on banning the exportation of the re- gious, intellectual, academic figures. ligious fatwas because each country has its Speaker of the Croatian Parliament, Gor- own conditions and nature that differ from dan Jandroković, lauded the Muslim World other countries’. He stressed the necessity of League and its partners for their initiative in respecting the constitutions, laws and cul- holding this conference that promotes shared ture of the countries in which Muslims live human values. He stressed that human frater- or reside and the religious privacy made in nity calls for love, peace and the best for all accordance with legal procedures. The Sec- and “our unity” achieves the welfare of hu- retary General touched on the initiative of manity and confronts hatred, extremism and friendship and cooperation among nations violence.