The Executive Council of World Muslim Congress met in Islamabad on Jan 16 and 17 and condemned in the strongest terms the continuing carnage in-human and brutal force against civilians in Gaza by Israeli forces resulting in tremendous loss of human lives including schools hospitals and media centers”. The council said in a resolution: “There is no doubt that it is the worst human tragedy in recent history. While the people of conscious are demonstrating against this bloodshed, there is no concrete step taken by the organization of Islamic Conference”. The Executive Council appealed to the President of Senegal, who is also the head of the OIC, to immediately call the session of OIC emergency summit:-

1. To impress upon the United Nations Security Council to enforce its resolution for an immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of Israeli forces from Palestinian territory.
2. To call upon all those countries including the Muslims states who have diplomatic relations with Israel to withdraw their Ambassadors from Israel as a protes.
3. We call upon Muslim States; humanitarian organizations; International Red Cross; Red Crescent and UNICEF to send immediate relief goods to suffering citizens of Gaza.

The resolution further said: “The World Muslim Congress feels that those who use force to impose their will against weaker sections of humanity do not realize that by their actions they make their world more unsafe for a long time to come. They sow the seeds of hatred in the minds of younger and coming generations and create a rift in the human family.
“It would also be the first test of the new American administration to change the policy of the use of brute force as the only method of combating terrorism and extremism. People of the world would like to see a qualitative change in the policies of the new administration”.

Kashmir issue

In another resolution the Executive Council said: “The World Muslim Congress strongly feels that the resolution of Kashmir issue is pivotal to the establishment of peace in the Sub-Continent. The non resolution of this issue has time and again, rather continulusly brought havoc to the lives of millions of men, women and children in the occupied territory who are facing the worst human rights violations. It is imperative that the International Community takes serious steps for putting an end to the sufferings of the people of Jammu and Kashmir and in the connection, we welcome the proposal of the newly elected President of United States to appoint the former president Bill Clinton as his representative to make fresh efforts for a peaceful resolution of this dispute. The Executive Council also appreciates the proposal of the British Foreign Secretary that to bring lasting peace to the sub-continent, the countries of the region shall have to resolve the Kashmir dispute which has avoided resolution for the last 60 years. The only democratic and peaceful course we consider open is giving the people of the state of Jammu and Kashmir the right to decide their own future, as decided by the United Nations Security Council. The recent escalation of tension between Pakistan and India after the incidents in Mumbai is a matter of concern for the World Muslim Congress. We appreciate the proposition of Pakistan for joint investigation of all aspects of the incident, keeping in view the objective of bringing down the level of tension and re-establishment of good neighborly relations”.

Sudan

The Executive Council also expressed “its solidarity with the brotherly country of sudan and rejects pressures on this nation through machinations, false propaganda to internationalize a local dispute and efforts to malign its leadership. “It said in a resolution: We appreciate the role played by the State of Qatar for a peaceful resolution of the issue”. The Council also decided to send a delegation to the area to make a fresh study of the latest developments and appeals to all sides to come to the conference table to resolve this issue which has a bearing on the national security and integrity of sudan. “We also appeal to Muslim organizations to urgently send humanitarian assistance to the affected area without any discrimination,” the resolution said.

Saudia

In a resolution on the situation in saudia, The Executive Council said “it feels that the situation in Somalia should not be allowed to further deteriorate. We appeal to various factions in Somalia to realize that internal strife provides an opportunity to out side hostile forces for intervention to advance their nefarious designs. We request Dr. Abdullah Omer Nasseef, President of the World Muslim Congress, to continue his positive contacts with various factions for the noble purpose of reconciliation.”

King Abdullah’s initiative appreciated

Through another resolution The World Muslim Congress brought on record, “its deep appreciation forj the initiative taken by Khadimul Haramain Al Shareefain King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz for organizing an interfaith congress, first in the Kingdom and then in Madrid (Spain) and then at the United Nations Headquarters, to defuse tension between different religious communities. The path of dialogue is the path of civilized behavior which would certainly decrease tensions in the world”. The WMC Council appealed to the world media to promote interfaith dialogue as a contribution to international peace.
The resolution further said: “The World Muslim Congress has right from its very beginning since 1926, has made concerted efforts in the field of Interfaith Dialogue. This process of dialogue, despite numerous difficulties and set backs is the path of Islamic behavior and a major contribution towards International peace and development. The Council expresses its deep appreciation of all Muslim and non-Muslim organizations working for this cause but the responsibility of the World Muslim Congress, as a pioneer organization, has its distinct character, for the discharge of which we must use all modern methods of communication, to achieve its objectives.”

Muslim youth

The World Muslim Congress also discussed the problems of guiding the Muslim youth in various societies with their particular circumstances for the purposes of making them better and useful citizens not only in their own societies but in the rest of the world.

The issues of violence, crime and drugs besides child labor and revision of curriculum in the educational institutions, technical training and for this purpose, the training of the trainers, youth camps and programs, the role of the scouts movement and the programs of the World Assembly of Muslim Youth were also discussed. In a resolution The Executive Council of the WMC demanded that the role of ISESCO and UNESCO should also be enhanced”.

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