Historic Islamic alliance pledges to improve access to education for girls

Historic Islamic alliance pledges to improve access to education for girls
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Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, MWL Sec Gen and President of the Organization of Muslim Scholars, speaks at a conference to improve access to education for girls and women. (Supplied)
Historic Islamic alliance pledges to improve access to education for girls
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An unprecedented alliance of Islamic leaders agreed to improve access to education for girls and women. (Supplied)
Historic Islamic alliance pledges to improve access to education for girls
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An unprecedented alliance of Islamic leaders agreed to improve access to education for girls and women. (Supplied)
Historic Islamic alliance pledges to improve access to education for girls
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An unprecedented alliance of Islamic leaders agreed to improve access to education for girls and women. (Supplied)
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Updated 14 January 2025
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Historic Islamic alliance pledges to improve access to education for girls

Historic Islamic alliance pledges to improve access to education for girls
  • Islamabad Declaration for Girls’ Education affirms girls’ education as both a religious obligation and societal necessity
  • Malala Yousafzai: I am imagining this conference as a beginning of a new journey, where we commit to a future for every girl to have access to complete quality education

ISLAMABAD: Islamic religious, political and civil leaders have united in a historic campaign to improve access to education for girls and women.

The Islamabad Declaration for Girls’ Education affirms girls’ education as both a religious obligation and societal necessity.

It brings together a diverse range of religious schools of law including Deobandi, Hanafi and Haqqani schools, as well as gender activists like Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai and political and civil society leaders.

The declaration was signed during a conference in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, convened by Saudi Arabia’s Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, secretary-general of the Muslim World League and chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars.

“I am imagining this conference as a beginning of a new journey, where we commit to a future for every girl to have access to complete quality education,” Yousafzai said in a statement.

“I want to thank the Muslim World League. Your Excellency Al-Issa; you have brought us together to address the barriers holding girls back from their right to go to school.”

Al-Issa added that the gathering “will not merely be a ‘call,’ a ‘declaration,’ or simply a ‘statement of stance.’

“Rather, it will represent a qualitative transformation in supporting girls’ education — a change that will bring joy to every deprived girl,” he said.

Religious leaders who affirmed the declaration include senior figures from the Deobandi school in Pakistan and India, leading Hanafi jurists, and the presidency of Darul Uloom Haqqania, Sheikh Anwarul Haq Haqqani.

Others included the Grand Mufti of Pakistan Sheikh Muhammad Taqi Usmani; the Mufti of Egypt Sheikh Dr. Nazir Mohammad Ayad; the Amir of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Pakistan) Sheikh Fazl-ul-Rahman bin Mufti Mahmood; the President of Ulema Council of Pakistan Sheikh Tahir Mahmoud Ashrafi; and the President of Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind (India) Sheikh Syed Arshad Madani.

“This gathering brings together the intellectual capital of the Muslim world not just to appreciate the enormity of the challenge we face, but also as a declaration of our resolve to overcome all these impediments,” said Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

In addition, the Muslim World League and Organization of Islamic Cooperation agreed on a number of practical measures to improve access to education.

One of these measures is an awareness campaign by a number of educational centers and scholars.

Another is a new Islamic Educational Alliance drawing on a diverse and influential network of religious leaders, intellectuals, policy experts and academics from leading Islamic universities worldwide

The Muslim World League will also partner with a number of international organizations including the UN Refugee Agency and UN University for Peace to further the cause of providing access to education for women.

The summit brought together more than 150 dignitaries from 44 Muslim and other friendly states, according to Pakistan’s Foreign Office.


Saudi king, crown prince send condolences on passing of former Algerian PM

Saudi king, crown prince send condolences on passing of former Algerian PM
Updated 07 February 2025
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Saudi king, crown prince send condolences on passing of former Algerian PM

Saudi king, crown prince send condolences on passing of former Algerian PM
  • Sid Ahmed Ghozali, who died age 88, was Algeria’s PM from June 1991 to July 1992

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have sent condolences to Algeria’s President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on the passing of former Prime Minister Sid Ahmed Ghozali.

In his message, King Salman expressed his deepest sympathy to the Algerian president and the family of the deceased, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The crown prince conveyed his condolences in a separate message, echoing the king’s sentiments, the SPA added.

Ghozali died at the age of 88 on Feb. 4 at the Ain Naaja military hospital in Algiers, state television reported. He was buried the next day at Ben Aknoun cemetery.

A graduate of Ecole des Ponts et Chaussees in Paris, Ghozali’s career in public service started in 1964 when he was named under-secretary of state for public works shortly after Algeria’s independence.

He subsequently held numerous high-ranking ministerial positions including energy, water resources, finance and foreign affairs, before being appointed prime minister from June 1991 to July 8, 1992.

As minister of energy and industry, he headed Sonatrach, Algeria’s national oil company, from 1966 to 1977, overseeing the nationalization of the hydrocarbons industry in 1971.


Flynas airline to launch Jeddah to El-Alamein route

Flynas airline to launch Jeddah to El-Alamein route
Updated 07 February 2025
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Flynas airline to launch Jeddah to El-Alamein route

Flynas airline to launch Jeddah to El-Alamein route
  • Plan to operate 2 weekly flights from King Abdulaziz International Airport
  • El-Alamein is popular tourist destination on northern coast of Egypt

RIYADH: Flynas, the Saudi Arabian airline, is to launch a new direct flight route connecting Jeddah with the Egyptian city of El-Alamein on the Mediterranean Sea.

The airline announced on Thursday that it will operate two weekly budget flights between Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport and El-Alamein International Airport, starting on July 1.

Flynas, a budget airline established in 2007, has been operating flights between Riyadh and El-Alamein — a popular tourist destination on the northwest coast of Egypt — since last year.

Flynas last month celebrated the start of its first direct flights between Riyadh and Entebbe in Uganda.

The airline currently operates about 139 routes to more than 70 domestic and international destinations across 30 countries, with more than 1,500 flights weekly, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

It has served more than 80 million passengers since its launch and plans to expand to 165 destinations by 2030, in accordance with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.


‘Protein is overhyped,’ says top Saudi vegan blogger

‘Protein is overhyped,’ says top Saudi vegan blogger
Updated 06 February 2025
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‘Protein is overhyped,’ says top Saudi vegan blogger

‘Protein is overhyped,’ says top Saudi vegan blogger
  • Yoga and diet journey led Sukkari Life to become one of Kingdom’s top creators
  • Cookbook published in September was 5 years in the making 

RIYADH: Around nine years ago, Raoum Al-Suhaibani started a blog with the aim of sharing recipes and articles about her plant-based diet and lifestyle.

Known online as “Sukkari” after the dates from her home region of Al-Qassim, she has gained a prominent following and cultivated more than 640 thousand followers across her social media platforms.

“I knew I had a message that I wanted to share with people. I hated seeing people just dieting for years and yo-yoing on that, and because I struggled at the beginning, finding my journey to eating healthy and actually enjoying it instead of it being a struggle,” she told Arab News.

To critics who say veganism is not a balanced diet, she states: “Protein is overhyped. If anything, people should eat more fiber. No one is getting enough fiber, and they’re all having digestive issues. But instead of looking into that, (they’re) just like ‘keep cutting more food and cutting gluten’.”

Published in September, her cookbook “Tamr wa Tahina” (“Dates and Tahini”) was in the works for five years and includes some of her first blog recipes.

It not only offers cooking instructions, but also explains the nutritional value behind certain ingredients, offers solutions to common digestive issues like irritable bowel syndrome, and provides tips for hair and skin care.

Al-Suhaibani was keen to create simple recipes incorporating easily accessible and common ingredients.

“I do have a few unique ingredients in certain recipes, like black garlic or whatnot, but they are always optional, and I always like to try to give alternatives to people, because I know not everyone lives in a big city and has access to things like tofu and almond butter,” she said.

Al-Suhaibani’s journey began when she started posting the vegan recipes she had created. After she discovered vlogging on YouTube, she became intrigued by the idea of creators connecting with viewers.

“With YouTube, you feel really close to the creator. You can relate to them, even if they live a very different life from you,” she said.

She explained the video platform also allowed her to figure out what she wanted her own life to look like by discovering other lifestyles, furthering her horizons beyond Saudi Arabia.

“It helped me figure out what I want, and it’s what gave me a purpose to start a YouTube channel. I was like, oh, it’d be nice to show people that you can live a healthy life in Saudi. You can be vegan. You can be active,” she explained.

Al-Suhaibani decided to try a vegetarian diet for one week while studying in the US.

“I used to absolutely hate vegetables, and I always joked that I would never be a vegetarian. And then, literally the next year, I became vegetarian,” she said.

She wrote a research paper for one of her classes about vegetarianism and its impact on health, the environment, and the economy.

“That played a role in convincing me that it’s not just for my health. After the week finished, I just absolutely could not go back to eating even chicken,” she recalled.

Her decision opened up a world of options and challenged her creativity to switch up ingredients and come up with innovative meal ideas.

“Everyone thought it was going to be a phase,” she said. “After I graduated, I started thinking about dairy and eggs and how they don’t really make sense for us to consume as humans. I started doing my research about that too, because I’m the type of a person that doesn’t commit to something easily, but if I commit, I’m committed.”

She embraced a vegan diet around the end of 2016. “I always tell people who want to be vegan to do it gradually,” she said, emphasizing the importance of educating oneself on nutritional and ethical aspects.

Around the same time, she began practicing yoga after taking a university course and completed her yoga teacher training in India in 2017.

“As someone who had zero knowledge about yoga, it was pretty challenging. But even with that I was still drawn to it afterwards, and I wanted to continue,” she told Arab News.

“Before I started yoga, I had a lot of anger issues, and I think it helped calm me down a lot … No matter what I’m going through, how sad I am, how angry or frustrated, whatever it is, it just centers me,” she said.

“Tamr wa Tahina” is available to purchase at Jarir Bookstore and online at Sukkari Store, which also offers an e-book version.


How AI is transforming Saudi Arabia’s digital services through Tawakkalna

How AI is transforming Saudi Arabia’s digital services through Tawakkalna
Updated 06 February 2025
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How AI is transforming Saudi Arabia’s digital services through Tawakkalna

How AI is transforming Saudi Arabia’s digital services through Tawakkalna
  • Originally launched for COVID-19 management, the app now offers over 600 government services, streamlining daily tasks
  • The platform integrates AI to enhance digital governance, user accessibility, and service efficiency, supporting Saudi Vision 2030

RIYADH: As governments worldwide embrace digital transformation, artificial intelligence is playing a pivotal role in making public services more accessible and user-friendly.

From streamlining bureaucratic processes to enhancing user experiences, AI-driven platforms are redefining how citizens interact with their governments.

Saudi Arabia is at the forefront of this revolution, with its Tawakkalna app emerging as a model for digital governance and AI integration.

Originally introduced in 2020 to manage COVID-19 restrictions, Tawakkalna has since evolved into a comprehensive digital hub, providing seamless access to more than 600 government services.

Available in seven languages and accessible in 77 countries, the app has become an indispensable tool for Saudi citizens, residents and visitors alike.

From managing personal data, medical records and professional documents to accessing religious, educational,and legal services, Tawakkalna consolidates essential services into a single, user-friendly interface.

Users can request an ambulance, register for organ donation, access weather forecasts, or even find volunteering opportunities — all at their fingertips.

“In the context of Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia has placed AI at the core of its economic diversification strategy,” Muhammad Khurram Khan, a professor of cybersecurity at King Saud University in Riyadh, told Arab News.

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“The Kingdom aims to become a global leader in AI, positioning the technology as a key enabler of smart cities, digital governance and advanced industries.”

The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority, which oversees Tawakkalna, has continually updated the platform to improve efficiency and user experience.

In October 2023, the launch of Tawakkalna 2.0 marked a significant milestone in the app’s development, enhancing accessibility and streamlining government services.

Key features introduced in Tawakkalna 2.0 include a redesigned homepage for quick access to essential services and Wakeb services, a real-time update system that keeps users informed about important developments.

The platform also allows government and private sector partners to engage directly with users, further enriching the digital experience.

“Tawakkalna is not just a success story of a government app, but a model of how AI can be harnessed to drive innovation in the public sector, transforming digital governance and significantly enhancing the quality of life for residents and visitors alike in Saudi Arabia,” said Khan.

“As AI continues to drive the evolution of digital services, Tawakkalna stands as an example for other nations, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s growing role as a leader in the global AI race.”

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative places digital transformation at the heart of national development. The government is actively integrating AI across sectors to enhance efficiency, transparency and accessibility.

Tawakkalna exemplifies this vision, allowing users to handle administrative tasks in a matter of seconds — errands that would otherwise require lengthy in-person visits to government offices.

With a focus on continuous improvement, Tawakkalna has expanded to include legal and business services such as Najiz, a Ministry of Justice classification service; university and training institution portals; and business sector support.

Find donation opportunities through Ehsan services on the Tawakkalna app. (X/Tawakkalna)

This reflects the Kingdom’s broader goal of fostering a thriving digital economy.

The success of Tawakkalna has not gone unnoticed. The app was named the top government platform in the Kingdom’s Digital Experience Maturity Index for 2024 and received the UN Public Service Award in 2022 for its innovative response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The app’s journey from a pandemic management tool to a full-fledged super app underscores Saudi Arabia’s commitment to leveraging AI for public service excellence.

It also highlights how digital governance, when executed effectively, can simplify daily life while boosting efficiency and inclusivity.

As Tawakkalna continues to evolve, the SDAIA is exploring further enhancements to ensure the platform remains at the cutting edge of digital transformation.

DID YOU KNOW?

• Saudi Arabia has digitized 97 percent of all government services.

• The Kingdom ranked fourth globally on the UN’s E-Government Development Index for 2024.

• The Tawakkalna app offers access to over 600 e-government services, including justice, health, education, and tourism.

Plans include expanding AI-driven personalization, integrating more predictive analytics for user needs and leveraging blockchain for greater security in government transactions.

For users in Saudi Arabia and beyond, the message is clear: Digital transformation is no longer a distant vision but a reality shaping everyday life.

Through AI-powered initiatives like Tawakkalna, the Kingdom is setting a precedent for how governments worldwide can embrace technology to create smarter, more efficient societies.

 


Saudi leaders send condolences to Swedish king after deadly school shooting

Saudi leaders send condolences to Swedish king after deadly school shooting
Updated 06 February 2025
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Saudi leaders send condolences to Swedish king after deadly school shooting

Saudi leaders send condolences to Swedish king after deadly school shooting
  • King, crown prince condemn attack, extend sympathy to victims’ families

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Thursday sent messages of condolence to Sweden’s King Carl XVI Gustaf following a mass shooting on Tuesday at an adult education center in the city of Orebro.

In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, the king strongly condemned the attack, which resulted in 11 fatalities and several injuries. He extended his sympathy to his counterpart in Sweden, the families of the victims, and the Swedish people, while wishing the injured a swift recovery.

The crown prince also conveyed his condolences in a separate message, echoing the king’s sentiments and condemning the attack as a “criminal act,” SPA added.

Swedish authorities identified the suspected gunman as 35-year-old Rickard Andersson, an unemployed recluse who may have been a student at the school.

Police believe he acted alone in the attack, and police described the aftermath as an “inferno.” Officials said Andersson killed nearly a dozen people before taking his own life in what is now considered Sweden’s deadliest mass shooting.

Investigations into the incident are continuing.