Leading Saudi moderate arriving next week, will meet Jaishankar & NSA, talk to religious leaders

Al-Issa is currently the Secretary General of the Muslim World League (MWL), an influential organisation based in Saudi Arabia that represents Muslims worldwide. His visit comes at a time when the Indian government is talking about the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and other reforms that need a larger consensus of the community.

As the Saudi Minister for Justice, Al-Issa oversaw key reforms in several areas, including legislative reforms in family matters, humanitarian cases, and for the rights of women. He also spearheaded various initiatives to strengthen relations between communities, faiths and nations.

A day after meeting Doval on July 10, Al-Issa is scheduled to address a gathering of prominent religious and community leaders and academics in Delhi, on the invitation of the Delhi-based Khusro Foundation, wherein Doval will also be present.

“Sheikh Al-Issa is considered among the tallest personalities, wielding considerable influence on the Muslim community worldwide. His approach is progressive and pro-reform, and his guidance to the youth on interfaith issues and women’s issues is taken very seriously,” said Hafeezur Rahman, convenor of the foundation.

During his address, Al-Issa is expected to speak on moderate Islam, encourage dialogue between civilisations, religious tolerance, intercultural communication, non-violence and religious pluralism.

Sirajuddin Qureshi, chairman of the foundation, said diplomats from various Arab countries, faith leaders, and academics from Aligarh Muslim University, Jamia Millia Islamia and other institutions were among the invitees.

Al-Issa is also likely to pay tribute at the National Police Memorial in Chanakyapuri, which was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 21, 2018, in recognition of the sacrifices by police personnel since Independence, including the 10 officers “who laid down their lives in an ambush by armed Chinese troops at Hot Springs (Ladakh) in 1959”.

Sources said Al-Issa is also scheduled to visit the Jama Masjid for Friday prayers, and is likely to visit the Akshardham Temple. He will also make a trip to Agra, said sources.

In January 2020, Al-Issa led a delegation to the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland to mark the 75th anniversary of the camp’s liberation from Nazis. In March this year, representatives of the Jewish community were among those invited to the MWL’s first European conference in London, where Al-Issa called Islam “a nation that loves everyone: Muslims and non-Muslims”.

The MWL claims to “present true Islam and its tolerant principles”. Last year, after author Salman Rushdie was attacked in New York, Al-Issa had said the attack was “a crime that Islam does not accept”.