Condemns terrorism in all forms and manifestations
ISTANBUL / AMN / Web Desk
The 13th Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit ended here on Friday with the adoption of a joint resolution on Palestine and an ‘Istanbul Declaration’.
OIC called on Western states to take necessary measures against xenophobia and Islamophobia.
In its ‘Istanbul Declaration’ adopted by member states, signatories expressed “concern” over the rising tide of “xenophobia, Islamophobia, anti-Muslim racism in Western countries”.
Photo Courtesy-Anadolu
Leaders of 56 member states met discussed problems faced by Muslim people across the globe.
The summit hoped to increase unity and solidarity among Muslim countries in the fight against terrorism.
According to the Istanbul Declaration, member states condemn terrorism in all forms and manifestations, calling for “equal determination towards all terrorist organizations”.
The declaration said member countries were alarmed by the threat terrorism poses to peace and stability in many OIC states and “concerned about the power vacuum that eventually offers fertile ground to terrorist organizations like Daesh, Boko Haram, PKK/PYD/YPG”.
In the declaration, OIC “deplored” Iran’s interference in the internal affairs of regional states and other member states including Bahrain, Yemen, Syria, and Somalia.
The declaration also said the organization rejects “any attempt to affiliate terrorism with any nationality, civilization, religion or ethnic group”.
Terror and Islamophobia were two prominent topics of the summit.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called on member states to form an anti-terror body within the organization to solidify the fight against terror.
The declaration also rejected sectarianism and encouraged member states to fight against “sectarian and discriminatory policies and practices as well as at enhancing reconciliation among all Muslims”.
The declaration also expressed concern “at the unbearable sufferings of millions of Muslim refugees, particularly that of Syrian refugees”.
Turkey took over the organization’s chair from Egypt for the next two years.
The summit hoped to increase unity and solidarity between Muslim countries in the fight against terrorism.
During the high-level meeting, Muslim leaders discussed the situation in Syria, Yemen, Palestine, Iraq, and Azerbaijan.
Founded in 1969, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation consists of 57 member states and represents the collective voice of the Islamic world.