Khaberni - The House of Representatives discusses, in a legislative session on Monday, the draft law amending the law of Islamic Waqfs and Affairs and Holy Places for the year 2025, after its approval by the National Guidance and Media Committee.
The reasons for the amendment project are; to reorganize the Council of Islamic Waqfs and Affairs and Holy Places so as to achieve the investment of movable and immovable endowment funds, real estate purchases, and to ensure the interest of the endowment in accordance with the provisions of Islamic Sharia and the conditions of endowers, and to offer Sukuk instead of bonds.
And for the purposes of controlling the properties and funds of the Hajj Fund and considering it a correct endowment, and adding the programs of the Holy Qur'an to the endowment programs, and canceling the affairs of Fatwa from the tasks of the Ministry of Islamic Waqfs and Affairs and Holy Places, as it became under the jurisdiction of the General Fatwa Department according to the General Fatwa Law.
Hussein Al-Amoush, the head of the National Guidance and Media Committee, said that the approval of the draft law comes as part of the legislative and supervisory role of the committee, aimed at developing the legal framework regulating the affairs of Waqfs, enhancing their protection and good management, to keep pace with developments and serve the public interest, and to preserve the religious and social role of the Ministry of Waqfs.
For his part, Mohammad Al-Khalayleh, the Minister of Islamic Waqfs and Affairs and Holy Places, said that the bill aims to reorganize the Council of Islamic Waqfs and Affairs and Holy Places, in a way that ensures the good investment of movable and immovable endowment funds, and real estate purchases that secure the interest of the endowment according to the provisions of Islamic Sharia and the conditions of endowers.
The project also includes the offering of Sukuk instead of bonds, for the purposes of controlling the properties and funds of the Hajj Fund and considering it a correct endowment.
Al-Khalayleh added that the project includes incorporating the Holy Qur'an program within the endowment programs, alongside cancelling the affairs of Fatwa from the tasks of the Ministry of Waqfs, as it has become under the jurisdiction of the General Fatwa Department by virtue of the General Fatwa Law.
The deputy Mohammad Al-Raoud suggested amending Article (9) amended to Article (24) of the original law to state: "Notwithstanding any other legislation, it is not permissible to expropriate any endowment land except for an official entity or public benefit and with fair compensation, and with the approval of both the Council of Waqfs and the Council of Ministers, and if any endowed land is expropriated, no part of it shall be taken for free."
