Muslim world pins hopes on Makkah summit

Former deputy chairman of the Shoura Council and world-renowned Islamic thinker, Abdullah Omar Naseef, emphasized the significance of the emergency Islamic Summit called by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.

“There is nothing strange in this call by King Abdullah for an emergency summit. It shows his deep concern toward Islamic issues as a prominent Muslim leader in the world,” Naseef told Arab News.
“This summit is being held at the right time, when the Islamic nation is facing a lot of challenges and crises, such as the worsening situation in Syria, the ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, and the continuing Israeli atrocities against the Palestinians,” he added.
“The organization of the summit in the holy city of Makkah during the last days of the holy month of Ramadan gives it even more importance.”

Naseef also expressed his hope that Muslim leaders assembling in Makkah for the summit would be able to take the right decisions to realize the Islamic world’s interests and strengthen its unity.
A member of the World Council for Mosques, an affiliate of the Makkah-based Muslim World League, Dr. Baheej Mulla Owais said: “We are pinning great hope on this extraordinary summit and pray that it will be a great success in realizing its objectives.”

Owais also spoke about a summit meeting in Makkah, called by King Abdullah about five years ago to reconcile Iraqi factions. “That summit was successful in reducing the bloodbath between Iraqi groups and narrowing their differences. Sitting in front of the Holy Kaaba, they had pledged to stop fighting each other.”

On his part, Waqaruddin Musie, secretary-general of the Federation of Rohingya Muslims in the Arakan Province of Myanmar, commended King Abdullah’s efforts to find an effective solution for the tribulations of his community and save them from ethnic cleansing by the majority Buddhists.
“The Makkah summit is a historical opportunity to help end the suffering of Burmese Muslims who are facing arrests, torture and murder by Burmese authorities,” Musie told Arab News. “The call for a summit by a great and wise leader like King Abdullah is appreciated and respected by Muslims all over the world,” he said.

“We the Burmese Muslims are pinning great hope on King Abdullah who is an ardent supporter of Muslim issues and oppressed people, and a pioneer of Islamic solidarity,” Musie said and hoped the summit would contribute to saving the Islamic nation.

Musie also said, his organization would present a proposal at the summit to highlight the issue of Rohingya Muslims and how to solve it. “We hope that the summit will take appropriate decisions to protect the interests of Muslims there,” he added.

Director of the Russian Islamic Cultural Center, Dr. Muhammad Hani, also spoke about the summit and its significance. “This is a historic opportunity for Muslim leaders to discuss their various issues and strengthen their unity and solidarity,” he said.

“I am sure that King Abdullah’s wisdom and personality would contribute to the success of the conference,” he added.