KUALA LUMPUR: A prominent Saudi Arabian scholar who was invited to two conferences in Kuala Lumpur has refuted allegations of having any ties with Israel.

Mohammad Abdulkarim Al-Issa, the secretary-general of the Muslim World League (MWL) who was at the International Conference of Religious Scholars and Asian Council of Ulama on Wednesday (May 8), has denied any relationship with Israel.

The two conferences were launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Mohammad Abdulkarim, speaking to the media after the Asian Council of Ulama on Wednesday, said any dealings he may have had with Jewish people did not mean that he either has ties with or acknowledges Israel.

"I have no relationship with Israel at all.

"The only relationship I have with (those in Israel) has to do with engaging the People of the Book as mentioned in the Quran (Muslims, Christians and Jews).

"As Islam mentions, we have a greater mission in this world and we welcome all the People of the Book and (my engagement with them) has nothing to do with politics.

"I reject all violence against Muslims and even if there are Muslims committing violence against Muslims in Gaza, I reject them," said Mohammad Abdulkarim.

In 2020, then a former Saudi justice minister, Mohammad Abdulkarim took part in a trip with the US Zionist group American Jewish Committee (AJC) to visit the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz, the site of the Holocaust during World War II.

His attendance was questioned amid the strong anti-Israel stand by the Malaysian government in the escalation of violence against the Palestinians in Gaza.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/05/08/i-have-no-relations-with-israel-says-prominent-saudi-scholar-in-malaysia