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Abdelouahed Belkeziz, CBE (/ˌɑːbdəlˈwɑːhəd ˌbɛlkəˈziːz/ ; Arabic: عبد الواحد بلقزيز; 5 July 1939 – 19 October 2021) was a Moroccan lawyer, politician, and diplomat. He served as the eighth Secretary-General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) from 2001 to 2004.

Biography

Abdelouahed Belkeziz was born on 5 July 1939 in Marrakesh. He attended Sidi Mohammed College, Marrakech and Moulay Youssef High School, Rabat. He studied law at the Faculty of Law, Mohammed V University, Rabat, and obtained his PhD in law from the University of Rennes in France.

Belkeziz served in various capacities at a number of educational and legal institutions as well as government commissions from 1963 to 1977. In 1977, he was appointed Ambassador to Iraq. He served as information minister in the cabinet led by Mohammad Bouabid from 27 March to 5 November 1979. His portfolio was expanded to include youth affairs and he served in the post from 5 November 1981 to 30 November 1983. He was then appointed minister of foreign affairs on 5 November 1983 and was in office until 18 February 1985. After leaving public office he returned to academia.

He served as Dean of Hassan II Ain Chok University, Casablanca (1985–1992), Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra (1992–1997) and Muhammad V University, Rabat (1997–2000).

In 2001, he became the eighth Secretary-General of the OIC. He condemned the September 11 attacks as "criminal and brutal acts that ran counter to all covenants, humanitarian values and divine religions foremost among which was Islam." He also led the OIC in opposing the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He retired at the end of 2004.

Belkeziz died in Rabat on 19 October 2021 at the age of 82.

Honours

• Order of King Abdulaziz (1979)
• Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit (1979)
• Commander of the Order of the British Empire (1980)
• Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of Senegal (1981)
• Grand Officer of the National Order of Merit (1983)
• Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Rio Branco (1984)

References

1. ^ Thomas K. Park; Aomar Boum (16 January 2006). Historical Dictionary of Morocco. Scarecrow Press. p. 397. ISBN 978-0-8108-6511-2. Retrieved 9 December 2013.
2. "Islamic Statements Against Terrorism in the Wake of the September 11 Mass Murders". Council on American-Islamic Relations. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
3. "'Eviction' of U.S. From Iraq Urged at Summit". Los Angeles Times. Reuters. 12 October 2003. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
4. Habib Shaikh (30 December 2004). "OIC needs to acquire more international influence & impact, says new Chief". Arab News. Archived from the original on 25 August 2012. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
5. Le diplomate Abdelouahed Belkeziz n'est plus (in French)

• "Abdelouahed Belkeziz, Secretary General 2001-2004". oicun.org. Permanent Mission of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference to the United Nations. Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 12 June 2011.

• 1939 births
• 2021 deaths
• University of Rennes alumni
• 21st-century Moroccan politicians
• Ambassadors of Morocco
• Ambassadors of Morocco to Iraq
• Organisation of Islamic Cooperation officials
• Academic staff of Mohammed V University
• Mohammed V University alumni
• Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
• Grand Officers of the Ordre national du Mérite
• Order of Civil Merit members
• People from Marrakesh
• Academic staff of the University of Hassan II Casablanca