JEDDAH, Sep 18 ( Arab News): The Kingdom has launched Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah International Foundation for Charity and Humanitarian Activities to serve Islam, the nation, people and humanity at large as well as spread tolerance and peace in the world.
"The foundation has been instituted on the Islamic values of mutual support, cooperation and charitable deeds. It also aims at achieving welfare of the people and promotion of education," Prince Khaled bin Abdullah, deputy chairman of the board of trustees of the foundation, said in a statement quoted by the Saudi Press Agency on Friday.
The foundation aims to offer assistance to Muslims across the world by building mosques, Islamic centers and promoting interfaith dialogues in line with the aspirations of King Abdullah, Prince Khaled said.
"The noble goals mentioned in the basic statutes of the foundation also include the support, encouragement and participation in interfaith dialogues, conducting research related to the propagation of moderation, toleration, peace and moral values apart from efforts to bring different Muslim schools of thought closer so that disputes among them end. It would strive to instill the idea of abandoning violence and combat crime in all its forms," the prince said.
He added that the basic statutes specified that the foundation would do everything possible to teach Islamic Shariah in its true sense.
"For that purpose the foundation will establish universities, colleges, schools and libraries besides centers for professional and technical training and social and research studies," Prince Khaled said.
It will also launch hospitals, sanitariums and other treatment, care and rehabilitation facilities.
The foundation’s objectives also included setting up chairs in universities. It also aims at offering grants and assistance to researchers in various subjects and studies that would contribute to the promotion of knowledge and culture globally.
It would organize seminars, conferences, forums, exhibitions and workshops that would help in serving its objectives inside and outside the Kingdom.
It would also encourage translation of works and work in concert with organizations and universities inside and outside the Kingdom to advance its ideas and activities.
It will participate in relief activities besides providing accommodation and launch productive projects and support credit establishments that help the poor. The foundation will also institute the King Abdullah International Prize to promote its activities, the prince said.