Doha: The Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs has participated in two Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)-level committee meetings held via video conferencing.
According to Qatar News Agency, these meetings included the 43rd gathering of the Standing Committee of Experts in Islamic Affairs and Endowments in GCC countries, as well as the 14th meeting of the committee focused on portraying the true image of Islam and addressing campaigns of hatred, intolerance, extremism, and sectarianism.
The meetings brought together representatives from the ministries and bodies dedicated to Islamic affairs and endowments of GCC member states. The Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs was represented by Director of the Department of Islamic Affairs Mohammed Jabr Al Mannai, with participation from the head of the Ministry's Islamic relations unit, Majid Al Mansouri.
These meetings are part of ongoing efforts to strengthen GCC cooperation, exchange expertise, and develop initiatives aimed at enhancing Islamic and endowment work while promoting moderation and tolerance. The 43rd meeting focused on proposals to enhance the endowment sector and its role in community development, including the establishment of a national index to measure the social impact of awqaf. This proposal aims to develop indicators to assess the impact of endowment institutions on economic and social development, improve transparency and governance, and provide decision-makers with accurate data.
Participants reviewed proposals and perspectives from member states on the index, its methodology, and implementation mechanisms, seeking to establish a unified GCC framework for measuring the impact of awqaf. The goal is to maximize the benefits of endowment resources, strengthen their contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, and support GCC-wide development.
The meeting also emphasized drawing on member states' successful experiences in Islamic outreach, religious guidance, and community programs to improve service quality and facilitate the exchange of successful practices across the Gulf. Additionally, the prospects of developing joint cultural initiatives to boost Islamic discourse and highlight its contributions to dialogue and tolerance were explored.
Meanwhile, the 14th meeting addressed case studies on intellectual and media monitoring. Participants considered collaboration with academic institutions and research centers to enhance joint Gulf action against misinformation and hate speech. Discussions included a GCC General Secretariat memorandum on establishing a Gulf scientific observatory to monitor defamation of Islam, hate speech, and extremist narratives.
Both meetings underscored the importance of continued GCC coordination in Islamic affairs, awqaf, and intellectual security. Participants emphasized the need for joint initiatives and projects promoting endowment-based development, reflecting the true image of Islam, and countering hate speech and extremism, in line with contemporary developments and supporting Gulf integration.