Anniversary of attempted burning of Al-Aqsa Mosque – OIC Press release/Non UN document

PRESS RELEASE

On the occasion of the heinous arson of the blessed Al-Aqsa mosque

This year’s anniversary of Al Israa and Mi’raj (the Night Journey and the Ascension of the Prophet) coincides with the 37^th anniversary of the evil attempt to burn the blessed Al Aqsa Mosque at a time when new and dangerous Israeli violations threaten the buildings and sanctities through excavations carried out by the Israeli occupation authorities underneath the mosque’s walls. Israel also allows Israeli extremists to access the mosque and to violate the sanctity of the destination of the Prophet’s (PBUH) Night Journey (Israa), the first prayer direction (Qibla) and the third holy mosque. Also, this anniversary comes at a time when the Israeli aggression against the Palestinian people continues to affect the different walks of life in the Palestinian occupied territories.

Israel is persisting in killing Palestinian civilians and abducting officials of the Palestinian Authority, including ministers, members of the Legislative Council, and elected heads and members of the municipal councils, besides the destruction of government buildings i.e. ministries, and civil premises and facilities. Israel also maintains its siege on the Palestinian people, and continues the settlement activities and the building of the Apartheid wall.

This painful anniversary also comes at a time when the city of Al-Quds al-Sharif is living in difficult conditions as a result of the stifling siege imposed by Israel through military checkpoints and the Apartheid wall that is suppressing the holy city, denying worshippers access to their religious places. Besides, Israel is making heated attempts to judaize the holy city by aggressing its religious places and national institutions, and seizing Palestinian houses in order to empty the city from its indigenous population and replace it with strangers.

On this occasion, the OIC reaffirms that Al Quds and the safety of its sacred places are particularly important for the security and peace in the region. Israel is, therefore, fully responsible before the Muslim world in particular and the international community in general for ensuring the protection of all of the holy places under its occupation, as well as for the freedom of worship therein. Israel should also abide by international treaties and agreements, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention which prohibits the occupying state’s aggression of the holy places or denying worshippers access thereto.   

The OIC, for which the cause of Palestine and Al Quds was the raison d’être, and in the face of the Israeli aggressions against the blessed Al Aqsa Mosque, appeals to the international community to compel Israel to protect and respect the Islamic holy places, and warns that any damage to the blessed Al Aqsa Mosque and the other holy places will have for Muslims and believers around the world dire and unpredictable consequences on international peace and security. In this connection, the OIC calls upon the international community to work seriously to convene an international conference for peace and stability in the Middle East, which guarantees Israel’s withdrawal from all Palestinian and Arab occupied territories and the establishment of the independent Palestinian State with Al Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

            In this anniversary, the OIC affirms the firm position of the Muslim Ummah toward the Arab and Islamic character of the city of Al Quds, and renews its appeal to the Member States to continue to provide all forms of support and assistance to the Palestinian people in their just struggle for freedom and independence.

Jeddah, 21 August 2006