Prosecutors from Islamic Cooperation states in Azerbaijan call for a global anti-corruption enforcement coalition
Azerbaijan hosted the Third High-Level Meeting of the Heads of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Agencies of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation member states. It focused on the Makkah al-Mukarramah Convention, which aims to speed up information sharing and the recovery of stolen funds.
Azerbaijan has hosted the Third High-Level Meeting of the Heads of Anti-Corruption Law Enforcement Agencies of member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC, a body bringing together 57 mainly Muslim-majority nations). Delegates focused on international financial crime, as criminal networks increasingly use sophisticated technology to hide illicit wealth. The central topic was implementation of the Makkah al-Mukarramah Convention.
The convention and its goals
According to the OIC, the convention is the first multilateral anti-corruption law enforcement agreement designed specifically for its member states. Azerbaijan's Prosecutor General, Kamran Aliyev, said it was adopted in 2022 in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. It is meant to facilitate mutual legal assistance, information exchange and the recovery of assets derived from corruption. The agreement is intended to bypass lengthy diplomatic channels and let agencies share intelligence quickly, run joint investigations, and trace, freeze and return stolen state funds. Aliyev said Azerbaijan has implemented all provisions of the conventions in its legislation.
Tugay Rahimli, Special Assistant to Azerbaijan's Prosecutor General, said the event brought together more than 250 participants from 46 member and service states, plus eight international organisations. He highlighted that Azerbaijan was elected to chair the bureau for the next two years.
Experience and obstacles
Abd Halim Bin Aman, Chief Commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, described Malaysia's asset recovery after the 1MDB case. He said about 33 billion Malaysian ringgit of losses had been recovered. According to the US Justice Department, more than $4.5 billion was misappropriated from 1MDB between 2009 and 2015. Bin Aman named bureaucracy as a constant obstacle to investigations.
Ivica Bošnjak, Deputy Minister of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina, said his country must coordinate 16 police agencies and other law enforcement bodies. He said several crucial laws still need refining.
Technology against technology
Imed Hazgui, President of Tunisia's High Authority for Administrative and Financial Control, warned that terrorist and organised crime groups use advanced technologies to hide resources and evade sanctions. He urged member states to share technologies and good practices, including the use of artificial intelligence.
