Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa, secretary-general of the Muslim World League (MWL) and chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars, presided over the third session of the Council of Islamic Leaders in North and South America in Washington, D.C., on Friday. The council members deliberated on various topics, including religious and national identity.
No Contradiction Between Religious and National Identity
Al-Issa emphasized that there is no inherent contradiction between religious and national identity within constitutional systems and laws that respect religious particularities. He noted that extremist ideologies are responsible for creating such conflicts, as stated in a league statement on X.
Addressing Hatred and Islamophobia
The council also focused on combating hatred in general and Islamophobia in particular. Al-Issa asserted that constitutions and laws do not permit hateful practices. He praised the Muslim community's efforts to confront hate speech and discrimination targeting all religions and ethnic groups.
Correcting Misconceptions About Islamic Terms
Members reviewed misconceptions surrounding several Islamic terms and stressed the importance of correcting misunderstandings through scholarly analysis, textual evidence, and historical context.
Background of the Council
The council was established under the principles of the Charter of Makkah following its founding conference in Washington in March 2022. It brought together Islamic leaders from across the Americas, along with US officials, legislators, and religious leaders. Al-Issa was selected by participants at the founding conference to chair the council due to his initiative in establishing it under the Charter of Makkah and his consensus support among participating parties.
