The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) raised an alarm over the plot of the apartheid State of Israel to Judaize the first qibla and the third holiest site in Islam, Masjid Al Aqsa.
In its press statement yesterday (Wednesday) which marked the 50th anniversary of the attack on the mosque by the Zionist regime, the international Muslim body reiterated her firm support for the Palestinians over their rights to statehood.
On Thursday, 21 August, 1969, an extremist Australian Christian, Dennis Michael Rohan, with the backing of the Israeli occupation forces, set fire on the Noble Sanctuary.
Muslim News reliably gathered that this criminal arson attack led to the establishment of the OIC in September 25, 1969 at the Morocco historic summit, “with the sole aim of safeguarding and protecting the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony among various people of the world.”
The press statement release as published on the OIC website reads in part: “On this painful anniversary, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) reiterates its firm support for the right of the State of Palestine to regain full sovereignty over its eternal capital, the city of Al-Quds.
“Restricting Muslim worshipers’ access to Al-Aqsa Mosque, repeated attacks on them inside its yards, closure of its gates, aiding and abetting extremist Zionist settlers to defile it, and intensifying its illegal excavations under and surrounding it are only a few examples of the Zionist criminal acts.
“These are merely the tip of the iceberg of Israel (the occupying Power) scheme, to Judaize Al-Quds, change its geographical and demographic character, and isolate it from its Palestinian surroundings, in flagrant violation of the International Law and the relevant UN resolutions,” it reads.
The OIC asserted that the State of Palestine has every right to protect the Arab identity of the occupied Al-Quds Ash-Sharif, preserve its human heritage and protect the sanctity of all Muslim and Christian holy sites therein, and maintain the inalienable religious rights of the Muslim Ummah there.
The OIC also reaffirmed the eternal attachment of Muslims throughout the world to the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque.
In part, it reads: “As the cause of Palestine and Al-Quds was the direct reason for its establishment, the OIC calls on the international community to pressure Israel, the occupying Power, to abide by the International Law and the resolutions of international legitimacy and end its occupation of all UN-recognized occupied territory of Palestine, including Al-Quds Ash-Sharif, based on the 1967 borders”.
The Islamic body applauded the resistance of the Palestinians and advised all to keep supporting the cause and remain steadfast.
