The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, has considered actions undertaken by Israel to construct a synagogue on an endowed Islamic land near the Al-Aqsa mosque an aggression against the Masrah [Ascent to heaven] of Prophet Mohammed [Peace be upon Him], and an aggression against the holy sites of the Islamic nation. In a press statement issued here yesterday, he condemned Israel for committing this criminal act, placing on Israeli authorities the blame for the consequences of this blatant abusive act which represents a flagrant violation of international law and the Geneva Conventions that prohibit occupying nations from staging any aggression against the holy shrines or the religious and historical monuments in the territories they occupy. Prof. Ihsanoglu conducted urgent contacts with a number of officials across the world to discuss this heinous crime and sent messages to both the Secretary General of the United Nations, the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, the French Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Director General of UNESCO, to take a stand against the brutal attacks perpetrated by Israel against the blessed Al- Aqsa Mosque and other holy Muslim shrines in the city of Al Quds.
