The Maldives has strongly condemned Israel’s decision to transfer administrative authority over the Ibrahimi Mosque to the Jewish Religious Council.
The Permanent Representative of Maldives to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the Ambassador of the Maldives to Saudi Arabia, Ahmed Sareer, condemned the move at the Extraordinary Open-ended Meeting of the OIC Executive Committee at the level of Permanent Representatives held Tuesday in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The meeting convened by the OIC, at the request of the State of Palestine, discussed the recent decision of Israel to strip the Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs and the Municipality of Hebron its administrative authority over the Ibrahimi Mosque and transfer it to the Jewish Religious Council.
In his remarks, Ambassador Sareer strongly condemned the Israeli occupation’s plan to transfer the authority over the Ibrahimi Mosque from the Palestinian Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs and the Hebron Municipality to the Jewish Religious Council. He further stated that any attempt to alter the historical and legal status quo of the Ibrahimi Mosque and other holy sites in the occupied Palestinian territories is a clear violation of the international law. He also stated that it further escalates the growing tensions in the region, threating the prospects for peace. Ambassador Sareer stressed on the collective responsibility of the OIC Member States and the international community to preserve and protect the Islamic and cultural heritage in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Ambassador Sareer also reiterated the Maldives’ unwavering support for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination, and advancing recognition of an independent and sovereign state of Palestine, based on the pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its Capital.
The Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation comprising of 57 Member States, is a strong advocate for the rights of the people of Palestine and their aspiration for statehood. The Maldives has been an active member of the OIC since becoming a member in 1976.