Iyad bin Amin Madani

Iyad bin Amin Madani
10th Secretary-General of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
Incumbent
Assumed office
31 January 2014
Deputy Essam Sharaf
Preceded by Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu
Minister of Information and Culture
In office
February 2005 – 14 February 2009
Prime Minister King Fahd
King Abdullah
Preceded by Office established
Succeeded by Abdulaziz Khoja
Minister of Hajj
In office
2 March 1999 – February 2005
Prime Minister King Fahd
Preceded by Mahmud Mohame
Succeeded by Foad Farsi
Personal details
Born 2 March 1946
Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Nationality Saudi Arabian
Political party Independent
Alma mater Arizona State University
Religion Islam
Website Official website

Iyad bin Amin Madani (born April 1946) is a Saudi public figure who served in different cabinet posts. He is the secretary general of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. He is the first Saudi official to hold his position.[1]

Early life and education

Madani was born in Mecca in April 1946.[1][2] He holds a bachelor's degree in production administration, which he obtained from Arizona State University in 1969.[1][3]

Career

Madani began his career as general director in a Saudi Airlines’ administrative office in 1970.[2][3] Then he joined media and he was editor-in-chief of Saudi Gazette until 1999, being the first editor of the daily.[4] At the same time he served as general director of the Okaz Organization for Press and Publication until his resignation in April 1993.[2]

He was appointed to the shoura council as a member.[5] He served there until 1999 when he was appointed hajj minister.[5] He was in office as Hajj minister from 1999 to February 2005.[6][7] Next, he was appointed minister of culture and information in February 2005, replacing Fouad bin Abdulsalam Al Farsi, who in turn became Hajj minister.[8] On 1 August 2005, Madani as information minister announced the death of King Fahd on state television.[9] Madani was elected as the head of the Islamic International News Agency (IINA) and the Organization of Islamic Broadcasting in 2007.[10] He was in office until 2009 and was replaced by Abdulaziz Al Khoja in the post.[11] During his tenure, Madani drew criticisms from Saudi clerics due to his tolerance towards the publications that were questioning the strong effects of the religious establishment in Saudi Arabia.[12][13]

Then Madani was appointed chairman of the board of directors of Knowledge Economic City in Madinah on 10 March 2012, replacing Sami Mohsen Baroum.[6][14] He also served as vice president of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Foundation for housing development.[14]

In November 2012, Saudi Arabia nominated Madani to the post of secretary general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) at the 39th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of OIC member states in Djibouti.[15] On 2 February 2013, Arab News reported that Madani would replace Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu as secretary-general of the OIC.[16] His appointment was officially announced after the 12th Summit of the OIC in Cairo on 8 February 2013.[4] Madani's term as secretary general of OIC was effective in January 2014.[17]

Recognition

Madani was awarded by the Malaysian government the prize, the Darjah Kebesaran Panglima Setia Mahkota (Knight of the Most Distinguished Order of Crown), in March 2009 due to his efforts in reinforcing solidarity of Muslim Ummah and his significant contributions in supporting the Saudi-Malaysian ties.[18]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "OIC head to hand over seat to Iyad Madani". Anadolu Agency. 8 February 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "New OIC Chief Iyad Madani". Asharq Alawsat. 10 February 2013. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Bringing everyone together". Arizona State University. September 2013. Retrieved 14 September 2013.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Madani elected as new OIC chief". Saudi Gazette (Cairo). 8 February 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Abdul Ghafour, P K. (13 April 2003). "Cabinet Reshuffle Likely Next Month — Report". Arab News. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Knowledge Economic City announces the appointment of the Chairman and the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors". Knowledge Economic City. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  7. ↑ "New Ministers Take Oath". Saudi Gazette. 17 February 2005. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  8. ↑ "Cabinet reshuffle affects four ministries". Samirad. 8 February 2005. Retrieved 2 March 2013.
  9. ↑ Samh, Rasheed Aboul (4–10 August 2005). "Smooth succession". Al Ahram Weekly 754. Retrieved 4 March 2013.
  10. ↑ "IINA, Organization of Islamic Broadcasting boards meet in Riyadh Tuesday". The Daily Star (Riyadh). KUNA. 26 February 2007. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
  11. ↑ "Saudi king overhauls the country’s leadership". Al Arabiya (Riyadh). 14 February 2009. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  12. ↑ "Saudi King reshuffles ministries". TVNZ. 15 March 2009. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  13. ↑ "Saudi woman becomes deputy minister". Al Jazeera. 14 February 2009. Retrieved 14 March 2013.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Saudi- Iyad Madani likely to be next OIC secretary-general". MENAFN. Arab News. 3 February 2013. Retrieved 9 February 2013.
  15. ↑ "39th Session of OIC Foreign Ministers Council issues Djibouti Declaration". Embassy od Saudi Arabia. 17 November 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
  16. ↑ Abdul Ghafour, P. K. (2 February 2013). "Iyad Madani set to become OIC chief". Arab News. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  17. ↑ El Redy, Ibrahim (4 February 2013). "Exclusive: Iyad Madani Set to Become OIC Chief as of Jan 2014". Amwal Al Ghad. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
  18. ↑ Khan, Ghazanfar Ali (5 March 2009). "Malaysian honor for Iyad Madani". Arab News (Riyadh). Retrieved 10 February 2013.

External links

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Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu		 Secretary General of the OIC
2014–present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent