MECCA: Delegates to the World Islamic Congress in Mecca today [April 22] gave broad support to the idea of holding a Muslim summit conference, to be attended by the Muslim Heads of State, as proposed by King Feisal of Saudi Arabia. King Feisal’s proposal has not been put to a vote, but observers said it was certain the Congress would adopt a resolution embodying this idea. Other resolutions which have already been drafted and were considered certain of adoption were:Palestine: a resolution stating that the Cong­ress decided to support the absolute right of the Palestinian people to return to [their] homeland.

Yemen: a resolution calling for an end to the fratricidal struggle which [pitted] Muslims [against] other Muslims in Yemen. It urged all its members to make active efforts to end the Yemen conflict.

Disputes between Muslim countries: a resolution asking all countries concerned especially its members, to make every effort to dispel misunderstandings between Muslim countries. If need be, the members of the Congress should approach the various parties to a dispute to try to reconcile them.

Joint fund: a resolution proposing the creation of an international Islamic fund to serve as a means of financing cultural and economic aid to Muslim peoples.

The Congress resumed work today after a 48-hour suspension due to a dispute between the Ethiopian delegation and the delegations of Eritrea and Somalia. The latter two delegations had challenged the Ethiopian delegation’s right to attend the Congress because of the persecutions Muslims were subjected to by the Ethiopian authorities.

Published in Dawn, April 23rd, 2015

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