Senior Islamic delegation to visit Auschwitz, on the 75th anniversary of its liberation (Jan 2020).
Countries visited as part of the MWL’s interfaith efforts worldwide.
Countries engaged through interfaith and anti-extremist efforts.
Countries visited so far this year to promote critical humanitarian missions.
Formal international commendations and awards received to date.
Historic agreement forged in 2017 with Pope Francis to advance interfaith cooperation.
Recognized in 2019 & 2020 U.S. State Department reports for advancing moderation.
Acknowledged by AJC, ASF, and CAM for outstanding global leadership initiatives.
Dr. Al-Issa assumed his current role as Secretary-General of the Muslim World League on August 9, 2016. In the same year, he became Chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars and a member of the Council of Senior Scholars in Saudi Arabia.
As Secretary-General, Dr. Al-Issa has travelled extensively throughout the United States, Europe, Africa and Asia, meeting with dignitaries and parliamentarians from the fields of justice, law and human rights, as well as major faith-based and community leaders.
Dr. Al-Issa visited the Vatican in September 2017 to meet Pope Francis and Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, creating an unprecedented partnership between the MWL and the Holy See.
An outcome of the 2017 Vatican engagement, paving the way for unprecedented interreligious diplomacy.
Dr. Al-Issa visited Sri Lanka to meet Buddhist and Muslim leaders following the Easter attacks and received the Order of Peace from the Sri Lankan President.
The Muslim World League expanded representation across Islamic sects in its councils to ensure inclusion of Muslim communities worldwide.
Religious leaders from Jewish, Catholic, Protestant, Orthodox and Islamic traditions signed the Paris Agreement for the Abrahamic Family for Solidarity and Peace.
In January 2020, Dr. Al-Issa became the most senior Islamic leader to visit the German Nazi concentration and extermination camp.
Dr. Al-Issa signed several cooperation agreements with major Jewish institutions worldwide to promote common values and protect religious sites. In 2020 he also finalized a cooperation agreement with the Russian Orthodox Church and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow.
Dr. Al-Issa joined German Chancellor Angela Merkel and U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in the AJC Virtual Global Forum, calling for dialogue and cooperation to combat antisemitism, Islamophobia and other forms of prejudice.
In partnership with the United Nations University for Peace, Dr. Al-Issa oversaw a global research initiative culminating in the book Promote Peace, Human Rights and Civilized Dialogue.
In June 2021, Dr. Al-Issa helped broker an agreement between Afghan and Pakistani scholars and officials, creating a roadmap for reconciliation in Afghanistan.
In March 2022, Dr. Al-Issa visited several U.S. states to strengthen interfaith relations, participating in the Global Faith Forum and gatherings with evangelical communities.
At the Makkah Conference led by Dr. Al-Issa, attendees representing every sect of Islam endorsed the Charter of Makkah, a defining document of modern Islamic thought.
The Charter follows the precedent of the Charter of Medina, emphasizing that diversity is a basis for cooperation rather than conflict, and calling for dialogue, understanding and joint action against injustice and oppression.
Commits to combating hate speech, violence, extremism and terrorism; advancing moderate Islam; protecting the environment and cultural traditions; and affirming national sovereignty alongside interfaith partnership.
Dr. Al-Issa has received numerous prestigious awards and honors for his contributions to interfaith dialogue, counter-extremism efforts, and humanitarian causes. His recognitions are chronologically listed as follows:
Dr. Al-Issa received Malaysia’s highest honorary title “Dato’ Sri” in recognition of promoting moderation.
Special recognition for promoting moderate Islam.
Awarded by the Galileo Foundation in Florence, Italy.
Awarded by the Governor of the Makkah Region.
Honorary doctorate from the Institute of Orientalism in the Russian Federation.
Awarded by the President of Sri Lanka.
Awarded by the President of Senegal.
Presented by the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations.
Inaugural recipient of the Combat Anti-Semitism Award.
Awarded by the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
Bestowed by the President of Pakistan.
Recognized for support of the Rohingya people.