The MWL has a number of regionally based Islamic cultural centres that oversee the certification of halal meat products in various countries around the world. Only meat approved by MWL-affiliated centres can be imported to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Much of its work in this field is organised through the International Islamic Halal Organization, a constituent body of the MWL founded to spread awareness of the importance of halal foods. Aid for Stranded Pakistanis In 1988, the Muslim World League together with Al Falah and Heed International - came forward and established semi-pucca houses for the Stranded Pakistanis in Bangladesh. Publications The Muslim World League publishes the monthly Journal of the Muslim World League in Arabic and English. It also publishes a weekly News of the Muslim World. International affiliations The United Nations Organization: Observer in General Consultative Status with the ECOSOC. With the MWL's General Consultative Status, the highest level granted, the organization has the authority to make substantive oral presentations during Council meetings. Organization of Islamic Cooperation: Muslim World League holds observer status in OIC for all meetings and conferences. Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO): The Muslim World League signed an agreement of cooperation and partnership with ICESCO in 2019. UNICEF: Member UNHCR: The MWL contributed one million dollars to the UNHCR in 2019 to support refugees worldwide. Controversy In October 2001, Newsweek writer Evan Thomas reported that "Two interrelated global charities directly financed by the Saudi government--the International Islamic Relief Organization and the Muslim World League --have been used by bin Laden to finance his operations. The organizations were left off the list of groups sanctioned by the United States last week, U.S. officials hinted to NEWSWEEK, in order to avoid embarrassing the Saudi government." According to the Anti-Defamation League, the MWL has frequently been a platform for anti-Israeli rhetoric. In 2008, it invited Yusuf al-Qaradawi to speak at their first International Islamic Conference on Dialogue in Mecca in June 2008. During his speech at the conference, he said he would "never sit with Jews on one platform and never hold dialogue with those Jews who have committed injustice against us and support Israel." References External links Muslim World League official English site Muslim World League official site (in Arabic) Islamic organisations based in Saudi Arabia Islamic organizations established in 1962