Minister of Islamic Affairs Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed has called for justice for the people of Palestine.

He made this appeal while delivering the Maldives’ national statement at the 15th Session of the Islamic Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Minister Shaheem is attending the 15th Session of the OIC’s Islamic Summit as a special envoy of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

Minister Shaheem departed to Gambia to participate in the 15th OIC summit session on Thursday. It began on Saturday and will proceed through Sunday.

He delivered an address at the summit, which is held once in every three years.

Delivering his address, the Maldivian minister called to implement a sustained ceasefire and to guarantee the provision of adequate and urgent humanitarian aid.

Stressing on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)’s failure to take immediate and essential steps toward lasting peace, Minister Shaheem urged Islamic nations to do more to hold Israel accountable for its genocide against the people of Palestine.

He also reiterated the support of the Maldivian government for Palestine’s establishment as an independent and sovereign state based on the pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as their capital and their bid for full UN membership.

Shaheem also shed light on the dire humanitarian situation in Myanmar and urged to work closely with the Gambia to prevent Rohingya genocide as an intervening state in their case against Myanmar at the International Court of Justice.

Further, he emphasized the urgent need to combat Islamophobia through the dissemination of information on the true teachings of Islam, which are all about peaceful coexistence, mutual respect, and tolerance.

The summit brings together leaders of Islamic nations worldwide to discuss and deliberate, take policy decisions as well as the offer guidance on issues relating to Islamic communities, as outlined in the OIC charter.

Held under the theme “Enhancing Unity and Solidarity through Dialogue for Sustainable Development”, the 15th session of the Islamic Summit of OIC will adopt three outcome documents, including a resolution on the issue of Palestine and Al-Quds Ash-Sharif.

Chair of the 14th Islamic Summit, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia handed over the chairmanship of the summit to the Gambia this year.

Maldives has been an active member of the OIC since becoming a member back in 1976.

OIC comprises of 57 members states.