Founder
Biography of H E Dr Mohamed Bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa
Born and raised in Saudi Arabia, his Excellency Dr. Mohamed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, completed his studies at the University of Imam Muhammad bin Saud Islamic University, where he earned a Masters and PhD in Comparative Judicial Studies (Constitutional Law). Thereafter, Dr. Al-Issa held many prestigious public offices in Saudi Arabia. He worked as a judge in the Ministry of Justice and in 2007, rose the highest rank of Chief Judge. In the same year, he was appointed Vice President of the Court of Grievances. In February 2009, Dr. Al-Issa was appointed Minister of Justice and an Advisor at the Royal Court of Saudi Arabia.
As Minister of Justice, he was credited both in Saudi Arabia and abroad for ushering in several key reforms, including legislative reforms in family matters, humanitarian cases, and for the rights of women.
Three years later (2012), the Council of Arab Ministers of Justice selected him as its honorary president. He also joined the teaching staff at the College of Law and Political Science at King Saud University, and the Higher Judicial Institute of Al-Imam Mohammad Bin Saud Islamic University. As a leader in combatting violent extremism in all its forms, Dr. Al-Issa was appointed General Supervisor at the Ideological Warfare Center in December 2015, where he has led efforts to combat the proliferation of extremist ideology on social media and elsewhere.
Since 2017, he served as General Supervisor of the King Salman Center for International Peace (KSIPC) in Malaysia. The Kingdom of Malaysia awarded Dr. Al-Issa its highest award, the “Dato Seri” at a ceremony convened by the Sultan Muhammad V. The Republic of Singapore has also honored Dr. Al-Issa for his international efforts in promoting tolerance, coexistence and peace.
In that same year (2017), Dr. Al-Issa delivered a keynote speech on behalf of Muslims at the International Summit on Religion at Mount Hai in Kyoto, Japan, presided over by the chief priest of the Tendai Buddhist sect. A year later, Dr. Al-Issa delivered an address on behalf of Muslims around the world at the 39th Meeting for Friendship Among People in the Italian city of Rimini.
Awards
Galileo International Award
Dr. Al-Issa is the recipient of numerous domestic and international awards, including the Galileo International Award of 2018, awarded by the Galileo Foundation in Florence, Italy, for his international achievements and pioneering leadership in promoting religious and cultural peace and harmony. Dr. Al-Issa has received the Moderation Prize of 2018 from the Governor of Makkah Region for his distinguished and outstanding efforts in promoting moderation.
Honorary Doctorate from the Institute of Orientalism
In 2019, Dr. Al-Issa received an honorary doctorate from the Institute of Orientalism in the Federal Republic of Russia. Senegalese President, Macky Sall conferred on Dr. Al-Issa the Grand Order of the State in recognition of his global efforts in promoting religious moderation, intercultural harmony, and humanitarian programs around the world.
Children of Abraham
At the 40th annual Rimini meeting hosted by the Florence School of Advanced Studies for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue; Dr. Al-Issa was awarded the “Children of Abraham” award alongside the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding’s Rabbi Marc Schneier.
Children of Abraham
Dr. Al-Issa also received the Peace Prize from the Arab-American Relations Council in Washington, D.C. in 2019. In 2020, Dr
Al-Issa founded the Mercy and Peace Foundation in South Africa. The Mercy and Peace Foundation is a safe place for victims of abuse, human trafficking, as well as discrimination and inequality. The foundation seeks to assist any person or child whose human rights have been violated either once, or on a continuous basis. Due to the high statistical reports around women and child abuse in South Africa and globally, the foundation is focused on women and children who have fallen victim to various forms of abuse and transgressions.