JEDDAH, 31 January 2003 — Dr. Fareed Yasin Qurashi, former Secretary-General of the International Islamic Relief Organization (IIRO), died in Beijing on Wednesday following a liver transplant operation at a Chinese hospital. He was 54.
Qurashi had been suffering from Cirrhosis for the past three years. His body is expected to be brought here today.
Dr. Qurashi had played a remarkable role in making IIRO an internationally known relief agency. His efforts as IIRO chief improved the lives of hundreds of thousands of orphans, widows and victims of natural calamities.
Qurashi was born in 1949 and received primary and secondary school education in Cairo and Jeddah. He received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah.
Qurashi obtained his master’s and doctoral degrees in business administration from Claremont University in the United States. He also worked as associate professor at KAAU’s Faculty of Economics and Administration.
He was one of the founders of IIRO and worked as its secretary-general until 1996.
News of his death shocked not only his friends and relatives but also the thousands of IIRO’s beneficiaries around the world.
Dr. Abdullah Omar Naseef, former secretary-general of the Muslim World League and former vice president of the Shoura Council, commended Qurashi’s pioneering role in Islamic charitable activities. “He came up with new ideas in charity work, especially in collecting and developing funds,” Naseef said, adding that the Sanabul Al-Khair fund-raising program was Qurashi’s brainchild.
Dr. Adnan Khalil Basha, IIRO’s secretary-general, commended Qurashi’s efforts in strengthening the organization since he became its chief in 1985. “His life was full of achievements as he worked day and night to improve the lives of the poor and needy,” he said.
Sheikh Mohammed Tantawi, head of Al-Azhar in Cairo, said he was shocked to hear the news. “I have seen his concern for the poor and the deprived. We have lost a good man who has done a lot in the service of humanity.”
Qurashi is survived by his wife and four children.
