Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
The Collective Voice of The Muslim World
Date: 01/06/2019
Under the theme "Hand in Hand toward the Future", the 14th Ordinary Islamic Summit convened on 1 June 2019 in Makkah Al-Mukarramah, Saudi Arabia. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, chaired and addressed the Summit recalling the 50th Anniversary of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) established after the arson of Al-Aqsa Mosque, which is still under the Israeli occupation.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques said that the Palestinian cause would always remain the cornerstone of the OIC and its focus of attention until the Palestinian people regain all their legitimate rights guaranteed by the resolutions of international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative. He reiterated the categorical rejection of any measures that would prejudice the historical and legal status of the city of Al-Quds Ash-Sharif.
King Salman bin Abdul Aziz stressed that extremism and terrorism are among the most serious plagues facing the Muslim Ummah and the world at large and called for concerted efforts to fight them, expose their supporters, and dry up their financial resources by all available means.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques expressed his deep regret for the recent wave of terrorism that has hit the region, referring to the terrorist sabotage of commercial vessels near the UAE's territorial waters, including two Saudi oil tankers. He asserted that such demonic acts would pose a serious threat to the security and safety of maritime traffic and international regional security.
He also pointed out that terrorist militias targeted two oil pumping stations in Saudi Arabia by drones and stressed that these terrorist sabotage attacks did not only target the Kingdom and the Gulf region, but also the security of navigation and energy supplies to the world.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques indicated that it was painful for Muslims to make up the highest proportion of displaced people and refugees in the world due to unrest, war, and limited opportunities of living in their countries. He added that from this perspective, Saudi Arabia seeks to reconcile different viewpoints to serve the Muslim countries and their peoples.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques said that the restructuring and development of the OIC and reform of its organs have become an urgent necessity to confront the regional and international challenges facing the Muslim Ummah. He pointed out that Saudi Arabia will seek, through its presidency of the Summit, to work with Member States and the General Secretariat to expedite the operationalization of the tools of joint Islamic action towards the realization of the aspirations of the Muslim peoples.
Addressing the opening session, Dr. Yousef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen, the OIC Secretary-General, congratulated the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques on his assumption of the presidency of the 14th Islamic Summit, pointing out that this reflects the status and spiritual leadership of the Kingdom in the Islamic world. He also thanked the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for his kind directions to host this event in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in the city of the sacred house, the Ka’bah, Muslims’ Qiblah (direction of prayers), and the cornerstone of the creed for one and a half billion Muslims. He stressed that that underscored the Kingdom’s endeavor to deepen and enhance the bonds of solidarity among our Islamic countries and foster joint Islamic action.
The Secretary-General highly lauded Saudi Arabia, the host of OIC, for its keenness to support the OIC and promote its role at the regional and international levels by providing all facilities and capacities that back the General Secretariat’s activities. He indicated his confidence that Saudi Arabia, known for its pioneering and central role in upholding the status of Islam and Muslims, standing by the right, giving precedence to dialogue, and underscoring the principle of Islamic solidarity, will continue playing its role during its presidency of this session with all determination and competence. This would help meet the current challenges, in view of its spiritual leadership of the Islamic world, and its prominent political and economic standing in the world.
Al-Othaimeen also expressed his confidence that the 14th Islamic Summit, which coincides with OIC 50th Anniversary, will be a milestone in the OIC history and thanked the Republic of Turkey for its presidency of the previous Summit, and its exerted efforts.
The Secretary-General said that terrorism and extremism, the scourges of our time, are at the forefront of pest and plight of our time that still undermine security and stability in the region and around the world. He asserted that the terrorist attacks that took place in the region are a clear manifestation of this threat, and they have proven that terrorism is not affiliated to a particular religion, nationality, or race. He cited the terrorist attacks in New Zealand, drone attacks on oil pumping stations in Saudi Arabia, and sabotage of commercial ships in the territorial waters of the United Arab Emirates, in a blunt threat to the safety and security of global maritime navigation.
The Secretary-General added that the criminal Houthi militias are targeting this holy land, directing their terrorist missiles towards the holiest place on earth—the most sacred and dearest to the hearts of millions of Muslims. He indicated that any prejudice to the security of Saudi Arabia, an OIC Member State and the host country of the OIC headquarters, is a prejudice to the security and integrity of the entire Muslim world.
On the other hand, Al-Othaimeen reiterated the OIC unequivocal rejection of the deliberate attempts to associate our noble Islamic faith with acts of terrorism committed by rogue bandit groups that do not represent Islam and its enlightening teachings and lofty values.
The OIC Secretary-General stressed that the Palestinian cause remains the OIC top priority, given its centrality to all Member States. He added that just and comprehensive peace remains the ideal solution only achievable through negotiations taking into account the Arab Peace Initiative and the two-state solution centered on the establishment of a Palestinian state according to the 4 June 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in line with the resolutions of international legitimacy.
