Heads of anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies from member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) met in Baku, Azerbaijan, on 27–28 October 2026 for their third high-level meeting. On the sidelines, Azerbaijan and Tajikistan signed the Makkah Al-Mukarramah Convention on Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Cooperation in the presence of OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha, while Qatar urged member states to ratify the treaty quickly so it can come into force.
What is the Makkah Convention?
The convention, named after the holy city of Makkah, is designed to be a legal basis for cooperation between the anti-corruption bodies of Muslim-majority countries. It covers the exchange of information between competent authorities and, importantly, the recovery of assets obtained through corruption and moved across borders. Twenty-one states signed it at the second meeting of this forum in Doha in November 2024, and Azerbaijani news agency Report says the number of signatories has since risen to 24.
Signing is only the first step. A treaty like this takes effect only after enough states ratify it through their own legal processes, which is why ratification was the main message at the Baku meeting this week.
Qatar’s appeal and Azerbaijan’s role
Hamad bin Nasser bin Rashid Al-Misnad, chairman of Qatar’s Administrative Control and Transparency Authority, told delegates that Qatar had recently ratified the convention and called on other members to do the same. He linked the fight against cross-border crime to respect for the rule of law, peaceful settlement of disputes and ending impunity. Qatar chaired the previous round of the forum.
Ahead of the meeting, Azerbaijan’s Deputy Prosecutor General Heydar Mammadov said more than 250 participants were expected, including representatives of 48 of the OIC’s 57 member states and the heads of 30 government agencies. Azerbaijan is also preparing to host the 16th Islamic Summit Conference in 2027, according to the OIC.
An Islamic principle behind the treaty
Honesty in public office is not only a legal duty for Muslims. The Quran (Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:188) warns believers against consuming one another’s wealth unjustly and against offering it to those in authority to seize what belongs to others. The idea of amanah, trust, runs through Islamic teaching on leadership and money. Our explainers on amanah in Islam and honesty in Islamic business cover this in more detail.
Why it matters
Corruption drains money meant for schools, hospitals and water supply in many OIC countries, and stolen funds are often hidden abroad. A working convention would let investigators in one member state request records or freeze assets in another more easily. For ordinary citizens, including the large Muslim diaspora working in the Gulf, the practical test will be whether recovered money actually returns to public services. For background on recent OIC diplomacy, see our report on the 52nd OIC foreign ministers’ session in Baghdad.
Key facts
- Event: Third high-level meeting of OIC anti-corruption law enforcement heads, Baku, 27–28 October 2026.
- Azerbaijan and Tajikistan signed the Makkah Convention on 28 October.
- 21 states signed in Doha in November 2024; signatories now reported at 24.
- Qatar has ratified and is urging others to follow.
FAQ
Has India signed the Makkah Convention?
No. India is not a member of the OIC, so the convention does not apply to it.
When will the convention take effect?
Only after the required number of member states ratify it. No date has been announced.
Source: Report.az — Qatar calls on OIC countries to speed up ratification; Organisation of Islamic Cooperation — OIC news
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