LONDON: Saudi Arabia has donated $1 million as part of the Kingdom’s contribution to the voluntary fund of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) on Syria.
The donation was handed over on Wednesday by the Saudi permanent representative to the UN, Abdallah Al-Mouallimi, during a virtual meeting with the head of IIIM on Syria, Catherine Marchi-Uhel.
During the meeting, they reviewed the Kingdom’s regional efforts in general and in Syria in particular.
Al-Mouallimi said his country’s role in the Syrian issue is to support political solutions and humanitarian efforts.
Marchi-Uhel thanked Saudi Arabia for its generous support, and called on the Kingdom to continue providing political support for the Syrian crisis, especially in efforts to hold accountable those who commit heinous crimes against the Syrian people.
Al-Mouallimi also participated in a meeting with the permanent representatives of the coalition countries fighting to support the legitimate government in Yemen.
They discussed the latest developments in Yemen and the most prominent challenges, as well as the statement issued by the UN Security Council on Friday welcoming the Saudi peace initiative to end the conflict and reach a comprehensive political solution.
The initiative also calls for a nationwide cease-fire, the reopening of Sanaa airport, and allowing free movement of ships for refueling and goods.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has won a seat on the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) for 2022-2025, and on the UN Commission on Population and Development for 2022-2066.
Al-Mouallimi praised the high status and international confidence that the Kingdom enjoys, and its record of global successes in various fields.
He said the Kingdom, through its long experience and achievements in combating drugs and organized crime, will be an important tributary to the UN and the committee members in this field.
Saudi Arabia donates $1m to UN Syria fund
https://arab.news/5bpsj
Saudi Arabia donates $1m to UN Syria fund
- Al-Mouallimi also attended a Arab coalition meeting on Yemen
- The Kingdom won seats on the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs and Commission on Population and Development
‘Cake not hate’ campaign becomes ‘Dates not hate’ in Madinah
- Dan said he was very impressed by Saudi hospitality and that his family was warmly welcomed
- He said being in Madinah exposed him to the true diversity of Islam
LONDON: A British autistic and non-verbal boy who has been visiting UK mosques and distributing cakes to promote solidarity amid an increase in far-right support in the country has taken his message of love to Madinah.
Joshua Harris, or “The Joshie-Man” as the 12-year-old is known to his social media fans, has handed out hundreds of his baked goods to worshipers at mosques in major British cities over the last few months.
The “Cake not hate” campaign came about after an Islamophobic attack on a mosque in his home city of Peterborough in October 2025.
Harris and his father visited Masjid Darassalaam, the mosque that was targeted, with cakes that the boy had baked and distributed them to the congregation soon after the attack. Since then, Harris has visited dozens of mosques in the UK.
On a recent trip to the Middle East, he and his father visited Madinah. In a local twist that pays tribute to the holy city’s famous date varieties including ajwa and ambar, Harris handed out dates to people in the courtyard of the Prophet’s Mosque. The “Cake not hate” campaign became “Dates not hate” for Saudi Arabia.
“He was greeted really, really warmly. There were some really touching moments where people were kissing his hands and his head. It was really lovely,” his father, Dan Harris, said.
Dan, the founder of global charity Neurodiversity in Business, said being in Madinah exposed him to the true diversity of Islam.
“We met people from all around the world. It was amazing. It’s like the United Nations there, you get people from different countries and it just goes to show you that the Muslim community, or the Ummah more generally, is not a homogeneous group,” he said.
“We saw people from Tajikistan and Uzbekistan and it was really interesting for us.”
Dan said his visit to Madinah, considered the second holiest city in Islam after Makkah for Muslims, was “profound and life-changing.”
He added: “I would say it’s my favourite city in the world due to the peace and tranquillity I felt there.”
Dan added that he was very impressed by Saudi hospitality: “Everywhere we went, people were taking down my number and insisting that we come for dinner, insisting they pick us up from the location. They were extremely attentive to Joshie as well, making sure his needs were met. We felt a great sense of welcome, something Saudi Arabia is known for.”
