JEDDAH: The Responsible Leaders Summit at the UN in New York stressed the pivotal role of Saudi Arabia in maintaining global harmony and peace, as well as its global status as the spiritual leader of the Muslim world, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
The Muslim World League (MWL) secretary-general, Dr. Mohammed bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa, delivered the opening and closing remarks at the summit along with Bawa Jain, secretary-general of the World Council of Religious Leaders.
Al-Issa focused on the vital role that responsible leadership plays in facing the many challenges of the modern world.
“It is important for leaders to inspire others and provide them with positive energy,” he said. “No matter what the differences in our culture or religion may be, we all agree on the key humanitarian norms that constitute the framework of our natural law. Even 10 percent of this common ground is enough to bring about global harmony and peace.”
He went on to list several attributes central to responsible leadership, including strength and integrity; a knowledge of history and a willingness to learn from it; being proactive and constantly monitoring performance; and recognition that the “most important pillar of (one’s) own nation’s peace” is “world peace.”
Al-Issa noted that education is one of the main drivers of a sustainable, peaceful future, stressing that “preparing teachers is the main point of focus.”
Al-Issa also addressed the responsibilities of religious leaders. “These include countering hate speech and all theories of religious or ethnic extremism that lead to violence or terrorism, while strengthening the intellectual immunity of all — especially young people — through their spiritual influence,” he said. “Extreme religious and terrorist ideologies are not established by military force, but by religious people who choose to adopt radical ideologies.
“We say there is no such thing as a ‘radical religion,’ but there is also no religion that does not have some extremist followers,” he continued.
Respect for other religions and their followers, he said, is vital for peaceful coexistence. The efforts of certain isolated religious and sectarian groups to impose their ideals on others, and reject the rights of others to exist, have led to exclusion, hatred and hostility, he added.
“Such negative ideas have created extremism of all kinds, including the (rise of the) extreme right in some countries,” Al-Issa noted, adding that each and every case of extremism — whether political, religious or intellectual — is a threat to world peace.
“Evil grows with time, through its effects on unconscious emotions. All stable people are aware that extremist rhetoric has a painful end. They also realize that its quick gains are deceptive. (It is) a seed of evil that will backfire,” he said.
“Evil only expands in the absence of good, injustice in the absence of justice, ignorance in the absence of knowledge, and negative opportunism at the expense of public interests in the absence of values with effective laws,” he concluded. “The fence of our human harmony can only be breached when it is unguarded.”
Respect for other religions is vital for peaceful coexistence: MWL chief
Respect for other religions is vital for peaceful coexistence: MWL chief
- Al-Issa noted that education is one of the main drivers of a sustainable, peaceful future, stressing that “preparing teachers is the main point of focus”
Saudi Crown Prince, UN secretary general discuss Gaza situation
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has received a phone call from UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, the Saudi Press Agency said early Tuesday.
The pair discussed the latest developments in Gaza and efforts towards achieving peace and stability.
French minister tours cultural highlights during Saudi visit
RIYADH: Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, Saudi Arabia’s culture minister, received his French counterpart Rachida Dati, who is currently on a visit to the Kingdom.
Prince Badr commended the robust cultural relations between the Kingdom and France, emphasizing their recent development and the Saudi leadership’s commitment to further strengthening bilateral cultural connections.
The discussions centered on ways to bolster cooperation and international cultural exchange between the Kingdom and France across various cultural domains. Key areas of focus included museums, theater and performing arts, culinary arts, films, heritage preservation, libraries, visual arts, music, fashion, architecture, and design.
Dati explored several prominent cultural venues and events in Riyadh during her official visit.
She toured the “Diriyah Biennale for Contemporary Art” held in the Jax district of Diriyah. The biennale features a significant number of elite artists from both the Kingdom and around the globe.
The Jax district has undergone a complete redesign, transforming it into a vibrant creative hub featuring performance spaces, artist studios, art galleries, and supportive platforms.
Dati also visited the Irqah Cultural Center and was briefed on its various innovative cultural initiatives. The center exemplifies Saudi cultural creativity by repurposing historical buildings and turning them into unique spaces that embrace art, artists, and elements of Saudi culture.
The French minister also visited the offices of the Royal Commission for Riyadh City and learned about some of the plans for the city and Expo 2030 which is being hosted in the Saudi capital.
Saudi leaders congratulate Russian president on re-election
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made a phone call to Russian president Vladimir Putin, the Saudi Press Agency said early Tuesday.
The Crown Prince congratulated Putin on being re-elected for a new presidential term.
Putin thanked the crown prince for his noble feelings.
“The call stressed distinguished bilateral relations and ways of enhancing them in all fields,” the SPA reported.
Earlier, King Salman and the Crown Prince sent separate cables congratulating the Russian president.
Saudi foreign, culture ministers sign memorandum of understanding to boost cooperation
- MoU set to foster closer cooperation in advancing international cultural exchanges
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, and Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan signed a memorandum of understanding on Monday to help boost collaboration between their ministries within the cultural sector and aid coordination across various fields, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The agreement, which was signed in Riyadh, is set to foster closer cooperation in advancing international cultural exchanges.
It is in line with the Kingdom’s National Strategy for Culture under Vision 2030.
Jordan’s crown prince performs Umrah
- He was joined by a diverse group of the Jordanian Armed Forces, young entrepreneurs, activists, athletes
RIYADH: Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein bin Abdullah on Monday performed Umrah, the minor pilgrimage to Makkah.
He also performed prayers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, the Jordan News Agency reported.
Accompanying him were notable figures including Prince Omar bin Faisal, Prince Nayef bin Asem, and Prince Rakan bin Mired.
He was also joined by a diverse group comprising members of the Jordanian Armed Forces, young entrepreneurs, activists, athletes, and media professionals. They shared in the spiritual journey and also gathered for iftar, the meal to break the fast during Ramadan.