The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will hold an emergency meeting of the Executive Committee at the level of Foreign Ministers of the OIC Member States in Istanbul, Turkey, on 1 August 2017. The meeting will discuss the continuing support of the resilience of the Maqdisites (Jerusalemites) to preserve their identity and the Islamic sacred sites in Al-Quds Al-Sharif in light of recent developments aimed at restricting the entry to Al-Aqsa Mosque. The meeting will also send a unified message to the international community by the Muslim World, demanding it to commit Israel, the occupying Power, to respect the resolutions of the international legitimacy, the Geneva Conventions and all resolutions on the Palestinian issue, especially Al-Quds Al-Sharif, which is an integral part of the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967. The OIC had held an emergency meeting of the permanent representatives of the OIC Member States on 24 July to discuss the latest Israeli escalation against the Al-Aqsa Mosque and an international forum on Al-Quds in Baku, Azerbaijan, as part of its continuous efforts to demand the international community and the influential actors worldwide to prevent the recurrence of such serious violations. OIC also has strongly condemned a terrorist car bomb blast near a police station on Makka road in the Somali capital Mogadishu killing at least 5 people and injuring dozens of innocent civilians. OIC Secretary General Dr. Yousef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen was deeply disturbed by this heinous attack that aims at undermining security and stability in Somalia. The Secretary General expressed his sincere condolences to the Somali government and relatives of the dead and wished the injured quick recovery. He emphasized the support of the OIC for the Somali government in its efforts to achieve stability, peace and development in the country to better serve the interests of the Somali people. On the other hand, OIC Secretary General Dr. Yousuf bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen met here today with Ambassador of Benin to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia who presented his credentials as a permanent representative of Benin to the OIC. During the meeting, they exchanged views on major regional issues, mainly security and stability in Africa, terrorism issues and means of enhancing bilateral relations.
