The Islamic Summit praises the success of Morocco’s political and humanitarian initiatives
Under the supervision of the Moroccan monarch, the Bayt Mal Al-Qods agency achieved a total of over $13.8 million between the two summits (2019-2024) in the holy city
The Islamic Summit commended, in its final statement, Morocco’s regional and multi-party initiatives, which have significantly contributed to several issues, including bridging the views of Libyan factions, strengthening the group of friends of middle-income countries, and sharing its experience in combating terrorism and assisting regional countries in this field, without neglecting the humanitarian and religious aspect by promoting dialogue among religions, cultures, and tolerance against hate speech.
The final statement, which concluded the proceedings of the 15th summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation held on Saturday and Sunday in the Gambian capital Banjul, praised the efforts made by the kingdom to bring the views of Libyan parties closer together and gather them around the dialogue table during a series of meetings in Morocco with the aim of advancing the political settlement process in accordance with the Skhirat Agreement of 2015 to achieve the desired political solution.
The Islamic Summit also welcomed the “Rabat Declaration” issued by the high-level ministerial conference on middle-income countries in February 2024, calling for enhancing the participation of these countries in global governance and elevating the group of friends of middle-income countries to an official government platform for dialogue, awareness, and coordination on development issues.
The Islamic Summit focuses on the leading role of the Mohammed VI Center for Dialogue of Civilizations in Kokiémpo, Chile, as a bridge for cultural communication between the Islamic world and the Atlantic countries of Africa and Latin America.
The summit highlighted the kingdom’s significant achievements in several areas, including counterterrorism efforts, where Morocco was chosen by the United Nations as a partner to host the Counter-Terrorism Office and Training Program in Africa. Morocco also chaired the special focus group on Africa of the International Coalition to Defeat ISIS, and hosted the meeting of foreign ministers of the International Coalition to Defeat ISIS in Marrakech on May 11, 2022.
The summit emphasized the role of the Moroccan monarch, King Mohammed VI, as a pioneer in African migration issues, and the kingdom’s continued role as a leading country in implementing the Global Compact for Migration. The kingdom was elected to chair the United Nations Human Rights Council for the year 2024, in recognition of its ongoing role in defending core human rights issues.
The Islamic Summit also praised the leading role of the Mohammed VI Center for Dialogue of Civilizations in Kokiémpo, Chile, as a bridge for cultural communication between the Islamic world and the Atlantic countries of Africa and Latin America, highlighting the United Nations General Assembly resolution on “Promoting dialogue among religions and cultures and tolerance against hate speech,” presented by the Kingdom of Morocco on July 25, 2023.
Moroccan heritage was also present, with the registration of Gnawa music heritage on UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list during the 18th session of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage held in November 2023 in the Republic of Botswana, thus recognizing the kingdom’s international efforts to protect and valorize tangible and intangible cultural heritage, bringing the total number of cultural properties registered on UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list to 14.
The report of the Al-Quds Committee, emanating from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and chaired by King Mohammed VI, highlighted that the tally of achievements of the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Al-Sharif Agency, the executive arm of the committee in the holy city, exceeded $13.8 million between the two summits (2019-2024).
The report confirmed that the agency continues under the personal supervision of the Moroccan monarch to fulfill its duties of improving the living conditions of the inhabitants of Jerusalem through economic, social, residential, educational, and cultural projects focused on directly responding to the needs of Jerusalemites.
It was clarified that these projects have significantly contributed to improving the living conditions of Jerusalem’s inhabitants, supporting their resilience, preserving the cultural identity of the holy city, enhancing peaceful coexistence and fraternity among the followers of the three monotheistic religions, and opening the door to dialogue within the framework of mutual respect and acceptance of differences.
The report highlighted “the continuous support of the Kingdom of Morocco for the Palestinian cause and its permanent solidarity with the Palestinian people”, the latest practical manifestation of which was a major humanitarian operation ordered by King Mohammed VI, chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, in favor of Palestinians in Gaza and Jerusalem during the month of Ramadan.
In addition to urgent humanitarian interventions, the report noted that the agency’s on-the-ground presence has diversified to include programs and projects for social support for Jerusalemites, decent living, orphan sponsorship and scholarships, youth, sports, childhood, women, and persons with disabilities, protection of authentic Palestinian heritage and arts, investment in scientific efforts to highlight the inclusive cultural identity of Jerusalem, support for research and studies on Jerusalem Al-Sharif.
The report also recorded the diversity of the agency’s achievements in supporting education, health, reconstruction and restoration, housing and protection of historical properties, social assistance, emergency program to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, media and press freedom, and the annual “Awne” campaign for olive picking.
The report emphasized the agency’s work methodology according to an innovative program system, represented by the “Bayt Al-Maqdis” Center for Research and Studies, the “Rabat” Observatory for observation, monitoring, and evaluation in Jerusalem, the “Dalala” platform for social and solidarity trade, the Children’s Club for Jerusalem, civic initiatives for a sustainable human development program in Jerusalem, and the Moroccan Cultural Center – Bayt Al-Maghrib in Jerusalem.
The Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency also opened last Thursday in Banjul, the Gambian capital, exhibitions of Palestinian-origin products, on the sidelines of the 15th Islamic Summit.
The agency explained that these exhibitions include a special exhibition of handicrafts, traditional industries, jewelry, and embroideries, reflecting the sacred and Palestinian identity, and were held as part of the “Investment Days Forum” organized by the Islamic Center for Trade Development of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on May 2 and 3 of this year, as well as an exhibition of olive extracts under the title “Olive of Peace”.
The declaration of the 15th Islamic Summit, held under the theme “Strengthening unity and solidarity through dialogue for sustainable development”, also emphasized “the importance of strengthening preventive diplomacy to effectively contribute to peace, protect lives and resources, and achieve the hopes and aspirations of our peoples for sustainable development”.
The member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation also reaffirmed “the need to enable the Palestinian people to realize their legitimate national rights in accordance with international recognition, including by recognizing the State of Palestine within the 1967 borders with Jerusalem Al-Quds as its capital”.
The agenda of the 15th summit included the Palestinian issue, peace and security, the situation of Muslim communities and minorities in non-member states, as well as legal, human, social, cultural, economic, scientific, technological, media, administrative, and financial issues.
