Deterrent for non-recurrence

[gallery size="medium" td_select_gallery_slide="slide" td_gallery_title_input="OIC seeks UN action for not repeating attacks targeting Makkah" ids="99546,99545,99544,99543,99541,99542"] By Badea Abu Al-Naja and Hassan Cheruppa MAKKAH – An emergency meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states held in Makkah on Thursday decided to constitute a working group to take urgent practical steps to ensure non-recurrence of vicious aggressions such as the ballistic missile attack by Houthi and Saleh militias targeting Makkah on Oct. 27. In a resolution, the ministers instructed the Executive Committee at the foreign ministers’ level to send a message in the name of OIC member states to the United Nations to take necessary global actions that would ensure that such vicious aggressions on Makkah and other Islamic holy lands are not repeated. The meeting formally adopted the communiqué, issued by the Executive Committee held in Jeddah on Nov. 5, which called on member states to stand united against this heinous aggression and those behind it. The Makkah meeting was chaired by Gayrat Fazilov, first deputy foreign minister of Uzbekistan, the current chair of the OIC Foreign Ministers’ Council. The session instructed that the working group shall be constituted by the member states of the Executive Committee. The meeting noted that last week’s Jeddah session called on member states and the international community to take serious and effective steps to prevent the recurrence of such attacks in future and called for holding accountable all those who smuggle weapons, provide training and continue to support the Yemeni insurgents. The meeting slammed those supported these attackers, describing them “as an established accomplice in the aggression on the holy sites of the Muslim world, an obvious party seeking to sow dissent and fuel sectarian discord, and a key sponsor of terrorism.” The meeting reaffirmed the OIC member states’ commitment to enhance their unity and solidarity as well as to promote mutually beneficial relations to maintain peace, security and stability, and prosperity among the member states and beyond in line with the spirit of Islam as mercy for the entire humanity. Earlier, the ministers approved appointment of Yousuf Al-Othaimeen, former Saudi minister of Social affairs, as the new secretary general of OIC. He replaced Iyad Madani, who had resigned two weeks ago due to health reasons, as the 11th secretary general of the 56-member grouping of the Islamic world. The meeting appreciated the outstanding contributions and great services rendered by Iyad Madani in serving the interests of the Islamic world. Addressing the meeting, Nizar Madani, minister of state for foreign affairs, reiterated that Saudi Arabia will never tolerate any negligence in defending the sanctity of the Two Holy Mosques and the Holy Sites. “It is also the obligation of all Muslim countries to take a clear, strong and bold position that suites well to the Islamic conscience,” he said. Madani, who headed the Saudi delegation to the meeting, underlined the need for taking decisive and deterring measures so as to ensure that non-recurrence of the sinful aggression committed by Houthi and Saleh militias targeting Makkah in future. He also called for stopping such aggressive practices and irresponsible policies being pursued by the militias who transgressed beyond undermining the security and stability of Yemen to threatening the national security of the neighboring states, and reached the level of violating the sanctity of the holy places and hurting the sentiments of Muslims all over the world. Madani also emphasized that any country that supports Houthi and Saleh militias with money and weapons shall own legal responsibility for the crime and such countries shall be considered as a partner in aggression on the Islamic holy sites and a main partner in supporting terror and undermining security and stability of the Islamic states. The venue of the OIC meeting in the vicinity of the Holy Kaaba was chosen to highlight the religious standing of Makkah among all Muslims in the backdrop of the ballistic missile attack. The meeting was pursuant to the recommendation of the emergency meeting of the Executive Committee held in Jeddah on Nov. 5. The Jeddah session called on member states and the international community to take serious and effective steps to prevent the recurrence of such attacks in future and called for holding accountable all those who smuggle weapons, provide training and continue to support the Yemeni insurgents. The executive committee reaffirmed member states’ support to Riyadh in its fight against terrorism and against all those attempting to target religious holy sites. It also stressed its solidarity with Saudi Arabia in its measures aimed at preserving its security and stability. It described the attack against Makkah as an act of offence against the feelings of Muslims around the world and a breach of international resolutions. Saudi ground defenses intercepted late on Oct. 27 a ballistic missile launched by the Houthi militias targeting Makkah. The Arab coalition said that the missile was downed 65 km from Makkah, adding that coalition jet fighters attacked the rocket launchers in Saada and destroyed them.