Timely meeting

His Majesty King Abdullah said waging war on terrorism and those who live as outlaws of Islam is a duty of all Muslims if they wish to defend their faith and future.

The words, read on the King’s behalf by Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour at the 13th session of the Islamic Summit Conference, held in Istanbul, should serve as a reminder that the war on terrorism has to be comprehensive and that only a united Muslim front can counter the dangers faced by the Umma at this critical juncture.

Since terrorism knows no boundaries, it will not stop at the borders of Syria, Iraq, Libya or any other Muslim country, but spread, as already witnessed, throughout the world, which also makes fighting it a duty of the entire mankind.

As far as the Muslims’ war against terrorism and the “khawarej”, these deviants from true Islam, is concerned, His Majesty urged support for Saudi King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud’s Islamic coalition that fights extremists seeking to spread in the region.

The Istanbul meeting also discussed the five-year Syrian war whose repercussions are affecting the region and the world, said the King who stressed that Syria’s neighbouring countries have been particularly affected in economic, humanitarian and security terms.

The Syrian crisis, said the King, has to be solved through a political solution that restores the dignity and rights, and alleviates the suffering, of the Syrian people.

Not forgotten in the Monarch’s speech were the Palestinian issue and Israel’s designs on the occupied territories and violations of the holy sites in Jerusalem, which will “never” be accepted by Jordan.

The Hashemite custodianship over the holy sites ensures that such violations are not allowed and will be countered “with all possible diplomatic and legal means”.

The summit did not fail to address other issue facing the Muslim nation, including calling on Iran to help forge a common Islamic strategy based on the principle of non-interference in the domestic affairs of Muslim countries.

The timely meeting underlined the challenges, particularly the threat of terrorism, faced by the Muslim world.

Its conclusions should be followed up on and concrete action will have to be taken to ensure that Muslims enjoy the peace and well-being most nations of the world do.