Religious Sanctities Require an Arab-Islamic Summit

The Arab and Islamic nations have never, throughout their history, witnessed sacrileges against their holy sites comparable to the ongoing, successive, and unjustified attacks on Islamic holy sites today. These attacks demand a firm, unified, and collective Arab-Islamic stance that reflects the importance and status of these sanctuaries in the hearts of Muslims, out of respect and reverence for their lofty religious standing.

In light of this, and out of reverence for the holy sites of both the Arab and Islamic nations, we urge, hope, and wish that an urgent Arab-Islamic international conference could be convened at the Arab-Islamic summit level, with the participation of the United Nations and relevant international and regional religious organizations directly concerned with such global issues related to the protection of religious sanctuaries.

It is well known and universally accepted that the protection of Arab-Islamic holy sites is not the responsibility of a single state alone—whether it be the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the honorable Kaaba, or the tomb of our Master Muhammad (peace be upon him), the Prophet of Islam, in the blessed city of Medina. Rather, it is the responsibility of all Arab and Muslim nations and peoples collectively. In these difficult circumstances, it is incumbent upon the sons and daughters of these two nations—the Islamic and Arab nations—to unite their ranks and confront the defense of the dignity and sanctity of these Islamic holy sites through all available diplomatic and humanitarian means, on all international forums and humanitarian platforms.

Therefore, convening an Arab-Islamic summit under the current circumstances, marked by attacks on the holy sites of the Arab nation, is among the necessities that require swift action. Such a conference should aim to achieve clear, positive outcomes, including decisions, mechanisms, and follow-up procedures that ensure the continuity of Arab-Islamic, as well as international, efforts to protect and preserve Islamic religious sanctuaries. These efforts must be backed by effective human resources that are not underestimated by corrupt enemies.

Since the defense of Islamic religious sanctuaries is a collective historical responsibility, we hope that Arab and Islamic countries will embrace and respond to this call, involving in the implementation of this mission the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Arab League—organizations that play a significant role in the responsibility of protecting Islamic religious sanctuaries.

The entire world has witnessed the unjustified attacks on these Islamic holy sites, including the violation of the dignity of Al-Aqsa Mosque by tyrannical Zionists, who desecrated its honor through their vandalism, destruction, and damage to its sacred contents, as well as the scattering of all preserved books and the Holy Quran from its library archives. As for what occurred at the place of revelation and the Islamic Kaaba, the whole world witnessed the attacks on this noble Islamic edifice, including aggressive missiles and drones aimed at shaking this sacred landmark from above the ground.

Thus, these attacks are sufficient to prompt Arabs and Muslims to answer the call to defend their sanctuaries. This can only be achieved by the hands of the Arab and Islamic nations, may God support them with His victory and strengthen their resolve. And if God supports you, none can overcome you.

Mohammed Salem Al-Balwan