‘Many challenges’ in combating Islamophobia, protecting human rights: top OIC official

‘Many challenges’ in combating Islamophobia, protecting human rights: top OIC official
Arab and international experts unite in discussions on AI and human rights. (AN Photo)
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Updated 01 July 2024
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‘Many challenges’ in combating Islamophobia, protecting human rights: top OIC official

‘Many challenges’ in combating Islamophobia, protecting human rights: top OIC official

JEDDAH: The 23rd regular session of the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation began on June 30 and will continue until July 4 in Jeddah.

All OIC member and observer states are attending, including their national human rights institutions, experts from international and regional organizations, and senior officials of the OIC General Secretariat.

Noura bint Zaid Al-Rashoud, OIC-IPHRC executive director, said in her opening speech: “The commission faces many significant challenges, especially in combating Islamophobia and protecting the human rights guaranteed to Muslim minorities, women and children.

“In this context, it is necessary to note that the OIC region is grappling with a number of complex human rights issues, and it is our duty to engage in cooperative efforts to address each of these emerging issues appropriately.

“The most urgent and emerging issue today is the human rights and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which requires us to pay more attention,” Al-Rashoud added.

She said that the secretariat will draft a comprehensive statement that highlights the results of the high-level meeting and the deliberations that will take place during the closed sessions of the working group on Palestine.

Hissein Brahim Taha, OIC secretary-general, said that “humanity stands on the brink of a new revolution” due to artificial intelligence, which will “transform our approach to life, living, thinking and working.”

AI is revolutionizing almost every aspect of human existence, from healthcare and education, to transportation and communication, Taha added.

He said that Islamic history is rich in scientific heritage, with Muslims pioneering study in a range of fields. The complex algorithms that form the foundation of today’s AI are a result of the sophisticated equations that Muslim scholars, such as Al-Khwarizmi, endeavored to build and develop, he added.

Jassem Al-Budaiwi, Gulf Cooperation Council secretary-general, highlighted the areas of cooperation between the GCC and OIC in safeguarding human rights. The collaboration spans agreements, joint efforts and consultations in human rights, complemented by political coordination to address crises and conflicts in the Islamic world.

Addressing the daily atrocities committed by Israeli occupation forces against Palestinians, particularly in Gaza, Al-Budaiwi highlighted the international community’s failure to protect those in dire need.

He urged renewed joint efforts to confront challenges, notably the Palestinian plight and escalating tensions in Gaza.

The Arab League’s assistant secretary-general, Haifa Abu Ghazaleh, highlighted the transformative potential of artificial intelligence AI in daily life, alongside the pressing challenges that the technology presents.

A memoranda of understanding was signed between the league and GCC aimed at fostering dialogue and collaboration on global human rights challenges.

During the first session, “International/Standard and Islamic Legal Perspectives on Human Rights Concerning Artificial Intelligence" Scott Campbell, senior human rights officer of the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights; and Dr. Nenden Shanty, director of the training and technical cooperation department at SESRIC, took part.

Shanty said that since many OIC countries are developing national plans to support the adoption and development of AI in their economies.

She provided policy recommendations, saying: “Breaching the digital divide in OIC countries involves a multi-phased approach that begins with assessing the current digital landscape in identifying priority areas, and engaging stakeholders to understand the specific challenges faced by underserved communities.”

Campbell shared the UNHCR’s perspective on these crucial challenges.

“We cannot afford any delay. The world waited too long, for example, on climate change; we should not repeat that mistake. But what can regulation look like? We should begin by addressing the harms that people currently face and are likely to encounter in the future,” he said.

The second session, titled “Institutional Perspectives on Artificial Intelligence: Challenges and Opportunities,” featured speakers including Sheikh Mohammed Ahmed Al-Sabah, president of the Artificial Intelligence Association of Things in Kuwait; Alaa Abdelaal, head of the Digital Foresight Sector at the Digital Cooperation Organization; and Sharon Slater, president of Family Watch International from the US.

Al-Sabah said: “The ethical framework guiding artificial intelligence is of the utmost importance for several reasons, encompassing essential aspects of human rights, societal norms and the potential impacts of AI technology. Constructing AI ethics aims to foster fairness, human justice, trust and equality.”

On Monday, the commission will hold a high-level event titled “International Court of Justice Judgment on Gaza: Implications for the Future and Possible Ways Forward.”

It will analyze the ICJ’s judgment on Gaza, focusing on implementing measures to end the humanitarian crisis and advocating for justice and accountability for human rights violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Additionally, the commission will sign deals with international and regional organizations to enhance technical cooperation.

From July 2-4, the commission will hold closed meetings of its working groups at the IPHRC Headquarters to discuss civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights in OIC member states, as well as human rights violations in Palestine and India-administered Jammu and Kashmir.


Saudi Shoura Council speaker participates in Rome conference

Saudi Arabia's delegation was headed by the speaker of the Shoura Council, Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Asheikh. (Supplied)
Saudi Arabia's delegation was headed by the speaker of the Shoura Council, Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Asheikh. (Supplied)
Updated 20 June 2025
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Saudi Shoura Council speaker participates in Rome conference

Saudi Arabia's delegation was headed by the speaker of the Shoura Council, Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Asheikh. (Supplied)
  • Event aims to build bridges, promote mutual understanding

ROME: The Second Parliamentary Conference on Interreligious Dialogue — titled “Strengthening Trust and Embracing Hope for our Common Future” — has started in Rome, with the participation of the Saudi delegation headed by Shoura Council Speaker Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Asheikh. The event is being attended by heads of parliaments from around the world.

Lorenzo Fontana, the president of the Chamber of Deputies of Italy, praised the body’s significant and vital role, stressing the importance of the conference in building bridges and promoting mutual understanding.

 


Pesticides workshop held in AlUla

The workshop targeted farm owners, agricultural workers, and those interested in the sector. (SPA)
The workshop targeted farm owners, agricultural workers, and those interested in the sector. (SPA)
Updated 20 June 2025
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Pesticides workshop held in AlUla

The workshop targeted farm owners, agricultural workers, and those interested in the sector. (SPA)
  • The workshop was part of a series of different guidance programs and workshops implemented by the National Center for Palms and Dates throughout the year in many regions of the Kingdom

ALULA: A workshop, titled Safe Handling of Palm and Date Pest Pesticides, was held on Friday in the AlUla Governorate. The event, which was organized by the National Center for Palms and Dates, in collaboration with the Royal Commission for AlUla, took place in the agricultural sector of the commission’s headquarters.

The workshop targeted farm owners, agricultural workers, and those interested in the sector. It aimed to raise awareness about safe pesticide use while enhancing efficiency in agricultural pest control in a way that improves production quality while ensuring environmental safety.

The workshop was part of a series of different guidance programs and workshops implemented by the National Center for Palms and Dates throughout the year in many regions of the Kingdom. They bid to support the agricultural sector’s development and enhance sustainability practices.

 

 


KSrelief distributes shelter aid in Somalia’s Togdheer region

The assistance comes as part of a 2025 initiative to distribute shelter aid to displaced persons in the African country. (SPA)
The assistance comes as part of a 2025 initiative to distribute shelter aid to displaced persons in the African country. (SPA)
Updated 20 June 2025
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KSrelief distributes shelter aid in Somalia’s Togdheer region

The assistance comes as part of a 2025 initiative to distribute shelter aid to displaced persons in the African country. (SPA)
  • The assistance will be distributed in cooperation with the UN World Health Organization to 45 healthcare facilities in northwestern Syria, based on field-identified needs

TOGDHEER: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center recently distributed 1,030 pieces of clothing, 475 shelter bags, and 20 tents to several camps in the Togdheer region of Somalia, benefiting 1,525 families and 9,150 individuals. The assistance comes as part of a 2025 initiative to distribute shelter aid to displaced persons in the African country.

Earlier, three relief trucks provided by the Saudi aid agency arrived on Wednesday in the town of Sarmada in Syria’s Idlib governorate, carrying 20 tonnes of medical aid.

The assistance will be distributed in cooperation with the UN World Health Organization to 45 healthcare facilities in northwestern Syria, based on field-identified needs. The aid supports frontline medical teams in underserved areas, benefiting about 150,000 people.

Elsewhere, the agency distributed 3,000 cartons of dates to families in need in the Shabwa governorate of Yemen, benefiting 18,000 individuals.

 


Masam Project achieves massive success in Yemen

Masam Project achieves massive success in Yemen
Updated 20 June 2025
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Masam Project achieves massive success in Yemen

Masam Project achieves massive success in Yemen
  • KSrelief has implemented 3,438 diverse humanitarian projects across 107 countries, valued at over $7 billion, since its launch in May 2015

RIYADH: Masam, a project launched by the Saudi aid agency KSrelief, has achieved a significant milestone by clearing 67,585,167 sq. meters and removing 500,000 explosives from Yemeni lands since its launch in June 2018.

Items removed include anti-personnel and anti-tank mines, unexploded ordnance, and explosive devices indiscriminately planted to harm civilians.

Demining efforts have dramatically reduced casualties — and allowed displaced people and farmers to return and resume cultivation — earning widespread praise from the UN and international organizations.

The agency has also initiated the Artificial Limbs Centers Project in several Yemeni cities, providing prosthetics and aiding physical rehabilitation to those injured by explosives.

The Masam Project stands as a vital contribution in enabling a safe and dignified life for Yemenis.

KSrelief has implemented 3,438 diverse humanitarian projects across 107 countries, valued at over $7 billion, since its launch in May 2015.

 


Saudi foreign minister arrives in Istanbul for OIC meeting

Saudi foreign minister arrives in Istanbul for OIC meeting
Updated 20 June 2025
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Saudi foreign minister arrives in Istanbul for OIC meeting

Saudi foreign minister arrives in Istanbul for OIC meeting

ISTANBUL: Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, arrived in Istanbul on Friday to take part in the 51st session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

The high-level meeting, to be hosted by Turkiye, will see foreign ministers from OIC member states convene on Saturday to discuss avenues for strengthening joint multilateral cooperation, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The agenda also includes deliberations on regional developments and their broader international implications, SPA added.

The gathering comes amid heightened tensions across parts of the Islamic world, with participants expected to address key geopolitical challenges and reaffirm the OIC’s collective stance on pressing issues.