DUSHANBE, May 24, 2016, Asia-Plus — Dr. Abdullah ibn Muhammad Al ash-Sheikh, Chairman of Majlis ash-Shura (Consultative Assembly) of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is arriving in Dushanbe today for an official visit, an official source at Tajikistan’s lower house (Majlisi Namoyandagon) of parliament, told Asia-Plus in an interview.
During the visit, Dr. Abdullah ibn Muhammad Al ash-Sheikh is scheduled to hold talks with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, heads of both houses of Tajik parliament, and Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Aslov.
While in Tajikistan, he is also expected to visit Hisor and Varzob districts.
Saudi Majlis speaker’s official visit to Tajikistan will last until May 26, the source said.
Abdullah ibn Muhammad Al ash-Sheikh is a member of a noted family of Saudi religious scholars, the Al ash-Sheikh. He was born in Diriyah in 1948 and was educated by his father, Muhammad ibn Ibrahim Al ash-Sheikh former Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia. He also studied the interpretation of the Quran and jurisprudence principles with the late Sheikh Abdulrazaq Afifi. He attended the Shariah College in Riyadh (later renamed Imam Muhammad Bin Saud Islamic University) and graduated with a bachelor”s degree in Sharia in 1975. He then studied Sharia at Al-Azhar University in Cairo and returned to Saudi Arabia to obtain a doctorate degree in 1987. He earned his PhD degree in Fiqh from Imam Mohammed bin Saudi University in 1987.
The Consultative Assembly of Saudi Arabia, also known as Majlis ash-Shura or Shura Council, is the formal advisory body of Saudi Arabia, which is an absolute monarchy. The Consultative Assembly has limited powers in government, including the power to propose laws to the King and cabinet, but it cannot pass or enforce laws, which is a power reserved for the King. It has 150 members, all of whom are appointed by the King. The Consultative Assembly is headed by a Speaker.
