DOHA - STATE OF QATAR 23 RAJAB 1422H (10 OCTOBER 2001)
At the gracious invitation of His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar and Chairman of the Ninth Islamic Summit Conference, the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the Organization of the Islamic Conference held an Extraordinary Session in Doha, capital of the State of Qatar, on Wednesday 23 Rajab 1422H (10 October 2001), to discuss the repercussions of the events which took place in the United States of America and its effects world-wide and in particular on the Member States.
The Conference was opened by His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar and Chairman of the Ninth Islamic Summit Conference, by delivering an address in which he referred to the situation that resulted from the recent terrorist attacks in the United States of America and its consequences on the world in general and the Member States in particular.
His Excellency Mr. Yasser Arafat, President of the State of Palestine, then delivered a speech to the same effect as well as pointing out the grave situation prevailing in Palestinian territories.
Then a message from His Majesty King Mohammed VI of the Kingdom of Morocco and Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee was read followed by the speech of His Excellency the Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference.
The Conference paid tribute to the address of the representative of the Islamic and Arab Organizations in the United States on behalf of the Muslim communities resident in the USA. It also welcomed the Christian-Islamic delegation accompanying President Yasser Arafat.
The Conference then proceeded to elect its Bureau as follows:
- State of Qatar Chairman.
Malaysia ]
Republic of Senegal ] Vice-Chairmen.
State of Palestine ]
- Republic of Mali Rapporteur.
His Excellency Sheikh Hamad Bin Jasem Bin Jaber Al-Thani, Foreign Minister of the State of Qatar and Chairman of the Ninth Extraordinary Session of the Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the Organization of the Islamic Conference then assumed the chairmanship of the Conference.
After debate and discussion, the Conference reached the following conclusions:
1- The Conference strongly condemned the brutal terror acts that befell the United States, caused huge losses in human lives from various nationalities and wreaked tremendous destruction and damage in New York and Washington. It further reaffirmed that these terror acts ran counter to the teachings of the divine religions as well as ethical and human values, stressed the necessity of tracking down the perpetrators of these acts in the light of the results of investigations and bringing them to justice to inflict on them the penalty they deserve, and underscored its support of this effort. In this respect, the Conference expressed its condolences to and sympathy with the people and government of the United States and the families of the victims in these mournful and tragic circumstances.
2- The Conference, proceeding from the provisions of the OIC Convention on Combating International Terrorism, reaffirmed the willingness of its Member States to effectively contribute to an international collective effort, under the umbrella of the United Nations as the forum where all States of the world are represented, to define the phenomenon of terrorism in all its forms and without selectiveness or double standards and contribute also to addressing its causes, eradicating its roots and achieving international security and stability.
3- The Conference stressed that such shameful terror acts are opposed to the tolerant divine message of Islam which spurns aggression, calls for peace, coexistence, tolerance and respect among people, highly prizes the dignity of human life and prohibits killing of the innocent. It further rejected any attempts alleging the existence of any connection or relation between the Islamic faith and the terrorist acts as such attempts are not in the interest of the multilateral efforts to combat terrorism and further damage relations among peoples of the world. It stressed as well the need to undertake a joint effort to promote dialogue and create links or contacts between the Islamic world and the West in order to reach mutual understanding and build bridges of confidence between the two civilizations.
4-The Conference welcomed the positions adopted by both the United States and the other countries that called on their citizens to avoid causing any harm to citizens of Arab and Islamic descent and to Arabs and Muslims residing therein. It also called on the International Community to undertake the necessary measures to protect the rights of innocent civilians and avoid causing any harm to them during the process of undertaking any preventive measures in the fight against the phenomenon of terrorism and expressed denunciation of the minority and fringe voices that have tried to cause harm to Islam and the Muslims.
5-The Conference reaffirmed the need to convene an international conference under the auspices of the United Nations to reflect the rejection of the international community of the use of terrorism in international relations, to agree on its definition, and draw up an international plan to fight terrorism within the framework of respect of the Member States' sovereignty and of international law. The United Nations, based on such universally recognized definitions and guidelines, is the legitimate body to determine engagement or support for terrorism by any State or group.
6- The Conference stressed its rejection of any linkage between terrorism and rights of the Islamic and Arab peoples, including the Palestinian and Lebanese peoples, right to self-determination, self-defense, sovereignty, resistance against Israeli and foreign occupation, all of which are legitimate rights enshrined in the United Nations Charter and international law.
7- The Conference expressed hope that preoccupation with the effects of the events which befell the United States should not lead the international community to ignore bearing its responsibilities vis-a-vis the state terrorism practiced by the Israeli Government and to which the Palestinian people is being subjected and Israel's serious escalation of the situation in the region.
8- The Conference warned Israel of the consequences of its exploitation of these events as a pretext for perpetuating its aggression against the Palestinian people and the creation of new situations in the region which are likely to jeopardize security and stability therein.
9- The Conference requested the Security Council and the Co-Sponsors of the peace process: the United States and the Russian Federation, as well as the European Union and its member states, to exert their utmost effective efforts in order to lift the blockade and stop Israel 's brutal practices, provide international protection for the Palestinian people and end the Israeli occupation of all Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied since 1967.
10- The Conference stressed that the international initiative towards achieving security and stability in a world free from terrorism and injustice must also include the achievement of security and justice for the Palestinian people, the establishment of an independent Palestinian State with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its Capital, and the protection of the Christian and Islamic holy places. In this context, the Conference also welcomed the statements of President George W. Bush about the right of the Palestinians to establish their own State which were supported by the Russian Federation, the European Union, China, Japan, the African States, the NAM countries, the international community and the United Nations, as a positive development in conformity with the resolutions of international legitimacy. It further expressed hope that the United States would immediately initiate the practical implementation of that issue and endeavor to achieve this strategic objective of establishing just and comprehensive peace for all states and peoples of the region.
11- The Conference expressed its concern over the possible consequences of the fight against terrorism including the death of innocent civilians in Afghanistan, and underlined the necessity of ensuring the territorial integrity of Afghanistan and its Islamic identity. It rejected the targeting of any Islamic or Arab State under the pretext of fighting terrorism.
12-The Conference welcomed the proposal by His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar and Chairman of the Ninth Islamic Summit, to establish a Fund to assist the Afghani people and His Highness' announcement to donate an amount of U.S. Dollars ten Million (10,000,000) to this Fund. It also welcomed the announcements of donations by the United Arab Emirates for an amount of U.S. Dollars three Million (3,000,000), and the Sultanate of Oman for an amount of U.S. Dollars one Million (1,000,000) to the Fund for assistance to the Afghan people. The Conference took note of the announcement made by His Royal Highness the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that the Kingdom has made a donation of ten Million Dollars to the Afghan people and that the assistance has already reached its destination in Afghanistan. It further took note that the Kingdom will contribute to the rehabilitation projects specifically developed for the people of Afghanistan and urged the rest of the Member States to continue to make donations to this noble humanitarian cause.
Done at Doha: 23 Rajab 1422H 10 October 2001.