Abdallah Ben Abdel Mohsen At-Turki (born 4 August 1940) is a Muslim religious leader from Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...

 who is General Secretary of the Muslim World League

Muslim World League

The Muslim World League is one of the largest Islamic non-governmental organizations. Muslim religious figures from 22 states founded it in Makkah in 1962.-Structure:...

.

Birth and academic career

At-Turki was born in Er-Riyadh Province on 4 August 1940. He attended the Sharia College in Er-Riad, graduating in 1963 with a bachelor's degree in Islamic Law. He attended the Higher Law Institute in Er-Riad, earning a master's degree in 1969.
In 1972 he defended a thesis on foundations of Islamic jurisprudence at Al-Azhar University

Al-Azhar University

Al-Azhar University is an educational institute in Cairo, Egypt. Founded in 970~972 as a madrasa, it is the chief centre of Arabic literature and Islamic learning in the world. It is the oldest degree-granting university in Egypt. In 1961 non-religious subjects were added to its curriculum.It is...

, Cairo

Cairo

Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...

.
He taught at the Higher Scientific Institute from 1961 to 1969, and was Dean of the Arab Language College in Er-Riad from 1969 to 1975. He was appointed Provost of Imam Mohammad Ben Sauda Islamic University in 1975, and later became rector of this university.
He had published numerous papers on Islamic studies, Sharia and Arab language.

Public positions

At-Turki was appointed Saudi Arabian Minister of Islam affairs, vakufs, appeals and morals in 1995, and mentor of King Fahd's Koran printing unit. He was Minister without the portfolio from 1999 to 2000, when he was appointed General Secretary of the Muslim World League

Muslim World League

The Muslim World League is one of the largest Islamic non-governmental organizations. Muslim religious figures from 22 states founded it in Makkah in 1962.-Structure:...

. He is also chairman of various other institutions including the League of Islamic Universities

League of Islamic Universities

The League of Islamic Universities is an association of Islamic universities.It is based in Cairo.The Chairman is Abdallah Ben Abdel Mohsen At-Turki, who is also General Secretary of the Muslim World League.-Principals:...

, Global Islamic Council in London

London

London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...

 and World Islamic Council of Appeal and Salvation.
He is chairman of Islamic Universities Association (IUA).
He has played an important role in establishing Islamic universities, including the Islamic University of Niger

Islamic University of Niger

The Islamic University of Niger is an Islamic university based in Say, Niger.-History:...

 and the International Islamic University, Islamabad.