OIC demands immediate end to Israeli apartheid

Islamic summit calls for settlement of Kashmir, Palestinian issues as per relevant UN resolutions

ISLAMABAD:

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and cessation of the all-out aggression against the Palestinian people in Gaza and urgent delivery of aid to the besieged Gaza Strip in an unhindered and adequate manner.

The 15th OIC Summit Conference in Banjul, the capital of The Gambia, also called on the world to take action to stop the crime of genocide committed by the Israeli occupation forces against the Palestinian people in Gaza Strip and implement the provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice.

“We affirm our solidarity in confronting the humanitarian catastrophe befalling Gaza Strip and its people due to the unflinching Israeli aggression for more than six months,” the OIC said in its declaration issued at the conclusion of the summit.

The OIC reiterated its “solid support for the Palestinian people” in their legitimate struggle to attain their inalienable rights, including their right to self-determination and to establish their sovereign state with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

The conference called upon the international community to compel the occupation power to abide by the international law, and United Nations resolutions and end its illegal occupation, colonisation and apartheid policy in the Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem.

It also demanded taking of all measures to safeguarding the Islamic identity of Al-Quds Al-Sharif against the illegal measures and policies as well as Judaisation and the violations of the sanctity and the status of Al-Haram Al-Sharif.

The OIC also urged the Palestinian brothers and sisters to unite in their struggle to achieve their objectives, under the banner of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) – the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.

It also paid tribute to the solidarity of the African peoples and governments with the struggle of the Palestinian people, specifically the member states of the OIC, and their firm stance to end the historical injustice that had befallen the Palestinian people, based on their bitter experience with ending colonisation and apartheid.

Reaffirming its continued political, moral and diplomatic support to the Kashmiri people, the OIC Summit called upon the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to take effective measures to implement its resolutions on Jammu and Kashmir to enable the Kashmiri people to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination through a UN-supervised plebiscite.

It also stressed the urgent need for resolving the longstanding disputes, including Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir, as per the pertinent United Nations resolutions and wishes of their peoples to avoid continuous threat to peace and security of the Middle East and South Asia.

The conference expressed deep concern over the increasing systematic persecution of Muslims and other minorities in India that had led to their political, economic and social marginalisation and urged the government of India to take necessary measures to protect their lives and properties and prevent any such acts in the future.

The declaration paid tribute to Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and other member states for leading efforts at the UN General Assembly for the adoption of the resolutions, designating March 15, as “International Day to Combat Islamophobia” in 2022 and “Measures to Combat Islamophobia” on March 15, 2024.

The declaration urged the UN secretary-general to appoint United Nations Special Envoy to combat Islamophobia and implement other relevant measures contained in these resolutions.

The OIC reaffirmed its support for a peaceful, stable, prosperous and inclusive Afghanistan, reiterated the need for addressing the challenges facing the Afghan people. It also paid tribute to The Gambia for its leading efforts at the level of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), on behalf of the OIC, to hold to account those responsible for genocide and other atrocities against Rohingya Muslims.

The OIC condemned in the strongest terms the repeated incidents of burning of copies of the Holy Quran in a number of European countries and called again on the countries concerned and the international community to take comprehensive and necessary actions to prevent the recurrence of such acts and counter the alarming surge of Islamophobia.

The summit conference also strongly condemned all forms of intolerance, terrorism, violence, extremism, leading to violence, racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia and discrimination of any kind based on ethnicity, tribe, colour, and religion.
The declaration urged the international community to accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly poverty alleviation, climate change, food security, health and education consistent with Islamic principles and values.

The declaration also underlined the need for more international efforts to protect the rights of women, children, youth, the elderly and people with special needs as well as Islamic family values. Besides, it also stressed the need for confronting the challenge of water scarcity, which had escalated over recent decades to become a global challenge.

The declaration also underscored the importance of implementing the “OIC-2025: Programme of Action” to achieve the set goals in the political, economic, social and cultural fields. It called for enhanced coordination and consultation among member states and the OIC organs to prepare the 2026-2035 Programme of Action.

The organisation paid tribute to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their continued generous support and guidance to the OIC and the Ummah.