By Mozammel Haque
Saudi Gazette

LONDON — Prince Charles hosted a reception at St. James Palace, London, Tuesday, to celebrate the historic achievement of the Oxford Center for Islamic Studies (OCIS). The Center was granted the Royal Charter for its scholarly study of Islam and it has become the first Islamic organization to receive this honor. Prince Charles, the patron of the Center, was joined by 150 guests at the reception including a number of foreign dignitaries and British politicians.

It is reported that Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls, Universities and Science Minister David Willetts, Attorney General Dominic Grieve and Minister of State Oliver Let win mingled with the Prime Minister of Malaysia Dato Sri Mohd Najib Bin Tun Abdul Razak and others. Jack Straw, one of the members of the Center’s advisory committee, also attended the reception.

At the celebrating reception, Prince Charles said, “It was ‘absolutely right’ that we should do all we can to nurture an institution which not only promotes a better informed understanding of Islamic culture  and civilization but also reminds both the Islamic world and the West of ‘those timeless, universal principles of harmony enshrined within Islam.”

Prince Charles who is the patron of the Center, has been an enthusiastic supporter since its foundation in 1985. He has twice delivered lectures at the Center and visited the 3.25 acre site where building work on its new home began work in 2002. Prince Charles took a prominent part in the design of the Islamic garden.

Dr. Abdullah Omar Naseef, the chairman of the Centre’s Board of Trustees, who came from Saudi Arabia to attend the reception expressed his satisfaction over the Center’s contribution.