GCC Reviews New Endowment Plans, Steps to Counter Hate Speech

The Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs took part in two Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) committee meetings held through video conferencing. The meetings focused on strengthening cooperation in Islamic affairs, developing the endowment sector, and enhancing joint efforts to combat hate speech, extremism, and misinformation.

The ministry joined the 43rd meeting of the Standing Committee of Experts in Islamic Affairs and Endowments in GCC countries and the 14th meeting of the committee responsible for presenting the true image of Islam while addressing campaigns of hatred, intolerance, extremism, and sectarianism.

Representatives from ministries and authorities responsible for Islamic affairs and endowments across GCC member states attended both meetings.

Qatar Delegation Represents Ministry

The Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs delegation was led by Director of the Department of Islamic Affairs Mohammed Jabr Al Mannai. He was joined by Majid Al Mansouri, Head of the Ministry's Islamic Relations Unit.

The meetings were held as part of ongoing GCC efforts to strengthen cooperation, exchange expertise, and develop joint initiatives that support Islamic affairs, endowment work, moderation, and tolerance across the region.

Committee Reviews New Awqaf Development Proposal

During the 43rd meeting of the Standing Committee, participants discussed several proposals aimed at strengthening the endowment (awqaf) sector and expanding its contribution to community development.

One of the main proposals called for establishing a national index to measure the social impact of awqaf. The proposed system would introduce both quantitative and qualitative indicators to assess the performance of endowment institutions and measure their contribution to economic and social development.

The proposal also aims to improve transparency and governance within the awqaf sector by providing decision-makers with reliable data and measurable indicators that can be compared across institutions.

Representatives from GCC member states exchanged views on the proposed index, its methodology, and possible implementation mechanisms.

Unified GCC Framework Under Discussion

The proposed framework seeks to create a unified GCC approach for measuring the impact of awqaf across member states.

Officials said the initiative is intended to maximize the benefits of endowment resources, strengthen the contribution of awqaf toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, and support development efforts throughout GCC countries.

Participants also highlighted the importance of learning from successful experiences across member states in areas including Islamic outreach, religious guidance, public awareness, mosque management, and community programmes.

The committee also explored opportunities for launching joint cultural initiatives that promote Islamic civilization, encourage dialogue, strengthen tolerance, and support openness.

Members further reviewed progress made in implementing recommendations from previous meetings, with the aim of ensuring the continuity of joint projects, improving institutional performance, and encouraging greater knowledge sharing among GCC countries.

Committee Discusses Response to Hate Speech

The 14th committee meeting focused on intellectual and media monitoring related to campaigns targeting Islam.

Participants reviewed several case studies and discussed cooperation with specialized academic institutions and research centres to strengthen coordinated Gulf efforts against misinformation campaigns and hate speech.

The committee also examined a memorandum from the GCC General Secretariat proposing the establishment of a Gulf scientific observatory dedicated to monitoring cases of defamation against Islam, hate speech, and extremist narratives across media platforms and digital channels.

The proposal aims to benefit from international and regional experiences in developing effective monitoring and analytical tools capable of addressing modern challenges.

Continued GCC Cooperation

Both meetings concluded by reaffirming the importance of continued coordination among GCC member states in Islamic affairs, awqaf, and intellectual security.

Participants stressed the need to expand joint projects and initiatives that support endowment-based development, present the true image of Islam, and strengthen efforts to counter hate speech and extremism while keeping pace with modern developments and advancing Gulf cooperation.