LAHORE: Jamaat-i-Islami emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has written letters to the leaders of Islamic countries, requesting them to take concrete steps in support of the people of Gaza and suggesting that April 20 be marked as a protest day at the international level to express solidarity with the Palestinians.
In the letter, he said, “We write to you with grave concern over the catastrophic humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza. The scale of devastation and human suffering demands urgent and unified action from the global community. History has shown us that in times of severe humanitarian crises — be it during the Holocaust, the Bosnian genocide, or the conflict in Kosovo — the world has, at crucial moments, come together in defence of human dignity and justice.
“What we are witnessing in Gaza today is nothing short of genocide. Innocent civilians, including women and children, are being killed indiscriminately. Hospitals, journalists, schools, and shelters — protected under international law — are being deliberately targeted. The silence or inaction of the global community in the face of such atrocities is deeply alarming.
“On behalf of the people of Pakistan, we urge your esteemed government and the governments of all Muslim-majority nations to take immediate and decisive steps to halt this daily massacre. The destructive capability of modern weaponry — freely and disproportionately available to Israel — has made the scale of devastation unlike anything witnessed in past crises.
“Thanks to social media and live coverage, the world is witnessing these horrors in real time. Global awareness is unprecedented, and the hearts of Muslims and peace-loving people across the world beat in unison for the people of Gaza. We believe that the people of your country share our pain and outrage, as do countless others around the world.”
The letter adds that this is a moment that calls for bold and moral leadership.
“We respectfully urge you to convene an urgent meeting of leaders of Muslim countries to formulate a concrete and collective plan of action. If the world remains idle, we may once again find ourselves mourning another chapter of human failure, just like what happened in Rwanda. The difference now is that the whole world is watching it live-streamed,” the letter reads.
“We also appeal for the immediate convening of a summit of heads of states, with a singular agenda to stop the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts will follow, but first and foremost, the bloodshed must end. We believe all Muslim nations possess some degree of international influence, and now is the time to exercise it meaningfully.
“Furthermore, we respectfully propose that Friday, 20 April, be officially declared as a ‘Day of International Outrage’. This day should be marked by rallies, processions, special prayers, and global demonstrations of solidarity with the Palestinian people. We are also reaching out to international human rights organisations to endorse this day of unity and resistance against oppression. May Allah grant us the courage and wisdom to stand united in the face of injustice, and may He bless your efforts in leading this cause.”
Published in Dawn, April 13th, 2025