The Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has hailed the role of King Mohammed VI, president of the Al-Quds Committee, in the protection of the city’s holy sites.
The OIC ministerial council, convening its 47th session in Niamey, Niger Nov.27-28, voiced appreciation for the fight led by the Al-Quds Committee against Israeli measures aimed at Judaizing the holy city.
The council also welcomed the role played by Bayt Mal Al Quds Acharif Agency in carrying out development projects and activities for the benefit of the Maqdessis and in support for their resistance, calling on the OIC member countries to further their support to the agency and to its action.
The Ministerial Council also welcomed the creation of the Moroccan Cultural Center “Bayt Al Maghrib” in Al Quds to promote the values of tolerance and coexistence between monotheistic cultures and religions.
The Council seized the opportunity to highlight the Sovereign’s support for the OIC activities, recalling that the Congress on “The rights of religious minorities in the land of Islam”, held in January 2016 in Marrakech was held under the King’s patronage. It also commended the Sovereign’s support for the activities of the Rabat-based Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO).
The OIC Foreign Ministers renewed their thanks to King Mohammed VI for agreeing to the appointment of Princess Lalla Meryem OIC Goodwill Ambassador for the empowerment of the marriage and family institution and the fight against underage marriage.
Morocco is represented at the 47th session of the Ministerial Council by a delegation led by the Minister Delegate in charge of Moroccan expatriates, Nezha El Ouafi.
In her address before the session, Ms. El Ouafi reaffirmed that Morocco and King Mohammed VI, chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, consider it imperative to preserve the status quo of Al-Quds so that the holy city remains a land of encounter and dialogue, a symbol of peaceful cohabitation between the faithful of the three monotheistic religions and a center of values of mutual respect.
She also reiterated Morocco’s unwavering support to the Palestinian cause and to the peace process as a strategic choice to achieve a just, lasting and comprehensive settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict on the basis of the two-state solution and so as to allow the brotherly Palestinian people to recover their legitimate rights and to establish their independent, viable and sovereign State, with Al Quds East as its capital.
The Kingdom, she pointed out, also reiterates its attachment to international legality and its rejection of the policy of annexation and any unilateral measure in occupied Palestinian territories, which are contrary to international law and the UN related-resolutions.
Referring to the theme of this 47th session, namely “United against Terrorism for Peace and Development”, the Moroccan official affirmed that the Kingdom categorically rejects any attempt, whatever its origin, to associate terrorism with a religion, race, culture, community or ethnic group.
Morocco reiterates its absolute and unreserved condemnation of all forms of terrorism and the instrumentalization of religion for terrorist purposes, she insisted.
The fight against terrorism, a universal and cross-border phenomenon without any connection to a particular religion or civilization, requires a comprehensive approach and international cooperation and solidarity at all levels, in a way that provides for effective responses to these threats, El Ouafi said, making it clear that Morocco denounces the provocations that threaten the sacredness of the Muslim religion.
The two-day session of the OIC ministerial council is debating, in addition to the Palestinian cause, the fight against violence, extremism and terrorism and Islamophobia, as well as the situation of Muslim minorities and communities in non-member states, and the promotion of dialogue among civilizations, cultures and religions.