AlQa'dah 13, 1434, Sep 19, 2013, SPA -- The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu condemned Israel for the siege it imposed yesterday morning on Al-Aqsa holy mosque and the attack its forces mounted on worshippers. He also condemned it for allowing Israeli extremists to enter the mosque and wander in its courtyards, stating that this attack targets one of the Ummah's dearest and most sacred sites, and therefore needs to be confronted and to prevent its reoccurrence, while holding Israel the responsible for the consequences of such measures. Ihsanoglu called upon the Islamic Ummah to be aware of the aggression and desecration to which Al-Aqsa mosque, the place of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH)'s night journey, is subjected, stating that he sent a letter to the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Morocco briefing him on the serious developments regarding Al-Aqsa mosque, which require Al-Quds Committee to convene. The Secretary General also called on the UNESCO, the UN Security Council and its Islamic member states to carry out their responsibilities in preserving international peace and security and to compel Israel to halt aggressions perpetrated by extremists and prevent them from increasing tension in the region. He also affirmed that the OIC is determined to raise the issue of Israeli aggression on Al-Aqsa mosque at the UN meetings due to begin next week in New York. The Secretary General also contacted the mufti and the governor of Al-Quds in order to be briefed on the situation in Al-Aqsa holy mosque following this heinous aggression.
