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On the 56th Anniversary of the Heinous Arson that Struck the Blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque

Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

21-08-2025

These days mark the painful 56th anniversary of the heinous attempt to set fire to the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, the first Qibla (direction of prayer) and the third holiest site in Islam. This comes amidst the escalating frequency of violations, attacks, and repeated crimes perpetrated by extremist Israeli settlers against the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, under the protection of the Israeli occupation forces. It also comes amidst growing sinful calls to divide the Mosque and establish the alleged temple, and the intensification of Israeli Judaization and ethnic cleansing policies against the occupied city of Al-Quds, its people, and its holy sites, in flagrant violation of international law and relevant international legitimacy resolutions.

On this painful anniversary, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) reaffirms the special status of the City of Al-Quds Al-Shareef in the conscience of the Islamic Ummah, and that the safety and sanctity of its holy sites are closely linked to the establishment of security and peace in the entire region. Accordingly, Israel, the occupying power, bears full responsibility for the safety of all holy sites under its unjust occupation, especially since international treaties and agreements, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention, prohibit the occupying power from attacking places of worship, guarantee freedom of access to them, and prohibit the occupying power from taking measures that alter the geographical or demographic features or attack historical sites therein.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation also affirms the centrality of the issue of Al-Quds Al-Shareef to the conscience of the Islamic Ummah and reiterates its steadfast support for the Palestinian people in their legitimate struggle to end the occupation and establish the sovereignty of their independent state on the 1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Shareef as its capital.

On this anniversary, we renew our pledge to continue our political, diplomatic, and legal efforts to protect the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque and defend its Islamic and historical identity against attempts at Judaization and partition.