Qatar Participates in 12th GCC Ministers of Islamic Affairs and Endowments Meeting in Bahrain

The State of Qatar participated on Tuesday in the 12th meeting of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) ministers responsible for Islamic affairs and endowments, held in the Kingdom of Bahrain to discuss a package of Gulf initiatives and proposals aimed at developing the endowments sector, strengthening institutional integration and coordinating efforts among entities concerned with Islamic affairs and endowments across GCC states.

Qatar's delegation was headed by HE Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs Ghanem bin Shaheen bin Ghanem Al Ghanem.

Opening the meeting, HE Bahrain's Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Nawaf bin Mohammed Al Maawda said joint GCC meetings embody the visions and directives of Their Majesties and Highnesses the leaders of GCC states to strengthen unity, integration and closer ties among member states across various fields. He noted that ministerial meetings on Islamic affairs and endowments had, since their launch, achieved significant progress in cooperation, coordination and the exchange of expertise, strengthening integration among GCC states and reinforcing the Council's mission to serve the causes of the Islamic nation.

The ministers examined mechanisms to strengthen cooperation and integration among member states through the exchange of scientific research, expertise and leading practices in endowments and Islamic affairs. Discussions also covered improving the system for presenting successful practices and sharing institutional knowledge to maximise the benefit of accumulated Gulf expertise, increase the effectiveness of religious outreach and guidance initiatives and their social impact, and support institutional development within the relevant authorities across GCC states.

The agenda included discussion of the proposed GCC Endowments Week as an initiative to highlight the developmental and civilisational role of endowments and raise public awareness of their importance in supporting development and serving society.

The ministers also discussed a proposal to establish a national indicator for measuring the social impact of endowments, contributing to the development of performance measurement tools, strengthening the effectiveness of endowment projects and achieving their development objectives.

The meeting also considered a proposal to launch a GCC-wide competition to promote awareness of endowments and charitable and voluntary work as part of efforts to reinforce a culture of giving and encourage community participation in charitable and endowment initiatives.

The ministers reviewed a proposal concerning the architectural identity of mosque minarets, balancing authenticity with innovation. The proposal aims to preserve the cultural and architectural character of mosques in GCC states while benefiting from modern developments in design and construction, reflecting the religious and aesthetic standing of mosques and strengthening their civilisational presence.

Participants were also briefed on several intellectual and cultural topics, including a proposal concerning cultural dialogue between East and West, a proposal to establish a GCC scientific observatory and a working paper on developments in addressing extremist ideas. These topics support GCC efforts to promote moderation, tolerance and intellectual security.

The meeting reflects the commitment of GCC states to advancing Islamic affairs and endowments, developing mechanisms for coordination and the exchange of expertise and successful practices, strengthening institutional integration among the relevant authorities and supporting high-quality initiatives. These efforts aim to reinforce the values of moderation, tolerance and generosity and enhance the developmental and civilisational role of religious and endowment institutions in serving Gulf societies and achieving their development aspirations.

Source: QNA

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