JAKARTA — The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has launched, at the headquarters of the Saudi embassy here, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Programs for Fasting and Dates Distribution in the attendance of Saudi Ambassador to Indonesia Isaam Bin Ahmad Al-Thaqafi.

The programs were launched in collaboration and coordination with the Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs and a number of the Indonesian official societies. The programs include distributing 2,500 Ramadan food baskets, 15 tons of fine dates and 200,000 copies of the Holy Qur’an.

The Ministry also launched, at the headquarters of the Saudi embassy in the Bangladeshi capital, Dakka, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Programs for Breakfasting and Dates Distribution in the attendance of Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh Issa Bin Yousef Al-Dihailan and the Acting in charge of the Religious Office at the embassy Ali Al-Zughaibi.

The programs include distributing 15 tons of fine dates over 45,000 beneficiaries and Ramadan food baskets each weighing 20-kg over more than 129,000 fasters of the holy month of Ramadan this year. Al-Dihailan said that the project comes under directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman.

In Khartoum, the ministry has launched at the headquarters of the Saudi embassy here the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Programs for Ramadan Breakfasting in Sudan and South Sudan, it was reported.

The programs were attended by Sudan's Minister of Religious Affairs and Endowments Abdul Aati Ahmed Abbas; the Saudi Ambassador to Sudan Ali Bin Hussein Jaafar; Secretary General of South Sudan's Islamic Council Abdulla Burj and a number of officials.

The Ramadan gift includes distributing ten tons of fine dates and 15000 Ramadan food baskets over fasters in several Sudanese states of the holy month of Ramadan this year.

Ambassador Jaafar said that the program comes within the fraternal ties binding the two countries and peoples, noting that a number of charitable projects have been implemented through Riyadh-based King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), Makkah-based Muslim World League and other Saudi philanthropic organizations in a number of Sudan's states over the last days.

For his part, Minister Abbas lauded the continuing efforts of Saudi Arabia in the humanitarian and charitable fields all over the world, in general, and in Sudan, in particular, noting that the project contributes to helping poor families.

In Addis Ababa, the ministry launched at the headquarters of the Saudi embassy in the Ethiopian capital, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Programs for Breakfasting and Dates Distribution. The programs include distributing 11 tons of fine dates and 800 Ramadan food baskets over more than 8000 fasters of the holy month of Ramadan this year.

To highlight the occasion, Ethiopia's General Mufti Omar Idris; Chairman of the Higher Council for Islamic Affairs Oromia enclave Haj Ibrahim Tuhfa; and Chairman of the Higher Council for Islamic Affairs of Addis Ababa Sultan Aman, expressed appreciation of the Saudi humanitarian initiative extended by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman.

22,000 Copies of Qur’an Gifted to

readers in mosques of Tunisia

In Tunis, Tunisia's Minister of Religious Affairs Ibrahim Al-Shaebi received in his office Saudi Ambassador to Tunisia Dr. Abdulaziz Bin Ali Al-Saqr who delivered 22,000 copies of the Holy Qur’an, published by Madinah-based King Fahd Complex for the Publication of the Holy Qur’an, as a gift from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman to readers of the holy book in mosques of Tunisia.

The gift is distributed by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance of Saudi Arabia in coordination with Saudi embassies abroad. Tunisia's Minister of Religious Affairs extended thanks to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince for their keenness to provide whatever serves Islam and Muslims all over the world.

Al-Shaebi praised the efforts exerted by the government of Saudi Arabia in the service of the holy book, citing that every year additional copies are received in mosques of Tunisia. Ambassador Al-Saqr said the gift reflects the keenness of the Saudi government to serve Islam and Muslims. — SPA