13th Session of the Islamic Summit Conference
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
Istanbul Declaration On Unity and Solidarity for Justice and Peace
We, the Kings and Heads of State and Government of the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), gathering at the 13th Session of the Islamic Summit Conference in Istanbul, Turkey, on 14-15 April 2016;
Reaffirming our commitment to the principles and objectives enshrined in the Charter of the OIC, particularly enhancing and strengthening the bond of unity and solidarity among the Muslim peoples and Member States;
Upholding the principles in the United Nations Charter and International Law; Respecting the national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of all Member States as well as the principle of non-interference in the domestic affairs;
Determined to improve brotherly relations and enhance unity and solidarity among the Member States of the OIC;
Reiterating the commitment of the Muslim nations to strive for the central purpose of the OIC, namely the Palestinian Cause and to preserve Al-Haram Al-Sharif as an Islamic site in all aspects and in its entirety;
Conscious of the diversity of cultures, beliefs and traditions among our nations and underlining the need to enhance genuine dialogue and culture of peace, both at domestic and international levels, and respect for Holy sites and religious symbols;
Committed to promote human rights and fundamental freedoms, good governance, rule of law, democracy, accountability in Member States in line with their respective constitutional
and legal systems;
Acknowledging that good governance and the rule of law, at the national and international levels, as well as an enabling environment, are essential for sustainable development, including sustained and inclusive economic growth, social development, environmental protection and eradication of poverty and hunger;
Cognizant of the need for the OIC Member States to have a fair share of the global wealth and to be better placed in the global value chain;
Recognizing the key role played by standing committees, namely the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC), Standing Committee for Scientific and Technology Cooperation (COMSTECH), Standing Committee for Information and Cultural Affairs (COMIAC), Al-Quds Committee, as well as Subsidiary Organs, Specialized Institutions and Affiliated Institutions in advancing issues of critical importance to the OIC in their respective areas of responsibility;
Aware of the global political, economic, social and cultural challenges such as armed conflicts, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, spread of violence and extremism all around the world, racism, xenophobia and islamophobia;
Expressing concern at the unbearable sufferings of millions of Muslim refugees, particularly that of the Syrian refugees, who had to flee their homes as a result of armed conflicts, civil wars and oppression in their own land;
Alarmed by the threat terrorism poses to peace and stability in many OIC Member States, concerned about the power vacuum that eventually offer fertile ground to terrorist organizations like DEASH, Al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, Al-Shabaab and PKK/PYD/YPG to gain ground, and determined to fight scourge of terrorism by all available means;
Reaffirming also our strong condemnation of the atrocious and deliberate terrorist attacks that have occurred against members of the OIC and in various parts of the world;
Aware of the need to exert sincere efforts aimed at containing the risk of polarization among Muslims that arise due to sectarian and discriminatory policies;
Denying all sectarian polices and discrimination that cannot comply with the noble principles of Islam, the religion of moderation and peaceful coexistence,
Expressing our concern over the rising tide of xenophobia, Islamophobia and anti-Muslim racism in Western countries;
Emphasizing our shared commitment to defend human dignity by working towards alleviating poverty, addressing social injustices and creating equal opportunities for Muslim minorities;
Recognizing the need for the Islamic World to enhance its outreach and interaction with other religions and cultures through constructive dialogue, mutual understanding and moderation;
Reaffirming our determination to promote and further protect human rights in view of the ongoing challenges that call for universal respect for human dignity;
Conscious of the emerging sense of injustice among the Muslim all around the world caused by political crises harming the Muslim countries, income inequality as well as social exclusion;
Commending the Republic of Turkey and the people of Turkey for the organization of the 13th Session of the Islamic Summit Conference, especially H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President of the Republic of Turkey, for assuming the presidency of the 13th Islamic Summit Conference
1. Condemn the continuation of the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, increasing violations of the International Humanitarian Law by further expansion of the illegal settlements and the demolitions of the Palestinian houses, the arbitrary killings, wide spread illegal detentions, and the ongoing blockade on Gaza that forces
2 million brothers and sisters to live in the depravity and isolation from the rest of Palestine and the world.
2. Take all measures to safeguard the Islamic identity of Al-Quds Al-Sharif against the Judaization attempts of the occupier and the violations against the sanctity and status of Al-Haram Al-Sharif,
3. Confirm the full solidarity of the Muslim countries with the Palestinian people in their struggle to free themselves from the 49 year long Israeli occupation, to achieve national unity and to live a dignified life in their own sovereign and independent country with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital,
4. Call on the countries that did not yet do so to recognize the State of Palestine, and urge the international community to empower the State of Palestine by all means including support for its membership to the international organizations and mobilize for the resumption of a peace process that will assure that another generation of Palestinian children will not grow under occupation and oppression,
5. Condemn terrorism in all its forms and manifestations regardless of motive and whereever and by whomever committed, and call for equal determination towards all terrorist organizations;
6. Reject any attempt to affiliate terrorism with any nationality, civilization, religion or ethnic group, and refuse provision of any direct or indirect support to the groups that call for violence, extremism and terrorism;
7. Renew our unwavering commitment to strengthening cooperation between the OIC and other international organizations to prevent and combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,
8. Continue to strongly condemn all forms intolerance and discrimination based on ethnicity, race, colour, religion and belief and emphasize the importance of nurturing tolerance, respect dialogue and cooperation among different cultures, civilizations and people as the most effective way to combat against the scourages of racism, racial
discrimination, xenophobia and Islamophobia.
9. Confirm our dedication to the goals and principles of the UN Alliance of Civilizations initiative and other similar important initiatives, and declare our political commitment to work towards their implementation;
10. Call on Western states to take necessary measures to combat xenophobia and Islamophobia and to ensure the safety and well-being of Muslims facing these scourges.
11. Reiterate that intercultural dialogue, mutual respect and finding common grounds for solidarity are the only means to build peaceful, prosperous and socially cohesive communities.
12. Refuse sectarianism and doctorinalism in all its forms and manifestations; and encourage national efforts aimed at combating sectarian and discriminatory policies and practices as well as at enhancing reconciliation among all Muslims;
13. Call for solidarity with Muslim minorities in many non-OIC Member States who still face serious oppression and whose rights are disregarded in many cases even though these rights emanate from the international law,
14. Call on all OIC Member States to show solidarity with Muslim peoples in non-OIC Member States who are struggling for their equal status and political equality, to closely associate with them and to increase and expand their efforts in all fields with a view to helping them to overcome their isolation,
15. Encourage efforts aimed at strengthening and enhancing the role of Muslim youth in society, improving the conditions for their education and employment,
16. Underline the importance of the contribution of Muslim women to social life as well as of strengthening the role of women in development of Islamic countries
17. Commend the efforts of all OIC Organs and Institutions for furthering cooperation among the Islamic countries in their respective fields of competence for enhancing the prosperity and well-being of the Islamic Ummah,
18. Reaffirm our commitment to ensure that all OIC Organs, including the General Secretariat, Standing Committees, Subsidiary Organs, Specialized Institutions and Affiliated Institutions discharge their duties in line with the OIC Charter and their statutes and strategy documents,
19. Express with satisfaction the successful implementation of the COMCEC strategy and its revised Statute which brought a new dynamism and visibility to the economic and commercial cooperation, and rendered COMCEC a platform for policy dialogue, producing and disseminating knowledge, sharing experiences and best practices and approximating policies among the Member States, further express deep appreciation for the Chairman of the COMCEC for his active role in the execution of the said documents and call upon the Member States and relevant OIC Institutions to make
better use of them,
20. Reaffirm our resolve to increase intra OIC trade to 25% in the coming ten years by implementing Trade Preferential System, other legal frameworks and by effective utilization of financial instruments and infrastrural support,
21. Welcome the adoption of the โOIC-2025: Programme of Actionโ document setting ambitious targets in various fields for the Member States of the OIC to achieve in the next ten years,
22. Commit ourselves to efforts aimed at increasing the effectiveness of the OIC in making justice and peace prevail all around the world.
