Ashraf AboArafe
H.E. the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Mr. Hissein Brahim Taha, called for urgent action in order to strengthen the role of Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency (BMAQ), and to mobilize resources for it to be able to carry out its role in supporting Al-Quds and its steadfast people, reaffirming the status of Al-Quds Al-Sharif as an integral part of the Palestinian territory occupied in 1967, and that it is the capital of the State of Palestine, and has a central place on the agenda of the OIC and its political movements.
In his speech delivered on his behalf by Ambassador Samir Bakr, Assistant Secretary-General for Palestine and Al-Quds Affairs, during the launch of the silver jubilee celebration of BMAQ, under the slogan “A new start to consolidate the status of Al-Quds and its religious and civilizational status”, in the presence of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, the OIC Secretary-General expressed his appreciation to the Kingdom of Morocco for hosting and providing generous support for BMAQ which was established at the initiative of the late King Hassan II, and continues to receive the attention and care of His Majesty King Mohammed VI within the framework of his sincere efforts to strengthen the process of solidarity and joint Islamic action to serve the issues of the Ummah, on top of which is the issue of Palestine and Al-Quds Al-Sharif.
The Secretary-General added that the seriousness of the challenges that the Israeli occupation is trying to impose on the ground in Al-Quds Al-Sharif places a common responsibility on everyone’s shoulders and underlines the urgency of a prompt action in order to strengthen the role of BMAQ and mobilize the necessary resources for it so as to be able to carry out the tasks entrusted to it, a matter that contributes to the stabilization of Palestinians in Al-Quds and preservation of its Arab and Muslim identity and its civilizational, cultural and religious heritage.
The Secretary-General expressed his appreciation for the BMAQ’s contribution to work responsibly in order to support Al-Quds Al-Sharif, preserve the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque and other holy sites in the city, preserve its civilizational, religious, cultural and urban heritage, and provide assistance to the steadfast Palestinian population and Palestinian institutions, in the face of Judaization schemes, calling, at the same time, for taking the necessary measures by Member States at the level of the public sector, civil society, the private sector and individuals to support the city of Al-Quds and its steadfast people.
For his part, Mohamed Salem Cherkaoui, the director in charge of the management of Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency, said that the occasion to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of BMAQ is an important opportunity to evoke the memory of His Majesty King Hassan II and King Hussein bin Talal, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the guardian of Al-Quds and its holy sites, in addition to President Yasser Arafat.
