Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance Sheikh Abdullatif Al-Asheikh lauded the Kingdom’s humanitarian and global response to the coronavirus pandemic during its G20 presidency.

In a speech to the opening session of the G20 Interfaith Forum, Al-Asheikh highlighted bold and decisive steps taken by Saudi Arabia to fight the global health crisis, noting the Kingdom’s actions were inspired by the principles of Islam.

He pointed out that Saudi Arabia dealt with the pandemic in a humanitarian, responsible, and professional way.

The five-day forum, which is being held virtually from the Saudi capital and organized by the King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz International Center for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue (KAICIID) and its global partner, has attracted around 500 leaders and representatives from several of the world’s major religions and global policy institutions.

At the outset of his speech, Al-Asheikh conveyed the greetings of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman to the participants at the forum.

The Saudi minister also drew the attention of the participants toward the timely preventive measures taken by the Kingdom to curb the spread of coronavirus. He also cited the cooperation of religious authorities in carrying out the government-led measures.

The forum, which will also tackle issues of climate change, disaster risk reduction, hate speech, and racism, seeks global solutions by collaborating with religious thought leaders and political representatives.

It also calls upon the world’s political leaders to include religious actors in the policymaking process leading up to November’s 2020 G20 Leaders’ Summit in Riyadh as well as to build policy based on shared values of solidarity, coexistence, and respect.