SELANGOR DECLARATION CALLS FOR CONCRETE ACTIONS TO LIBERATE AL-AQSA
SELANGOR DECLARATION CALLS FOR CONCRETE ACTIONS TO LIBERATE AL-AQSA AND PALESTINE
by Syarif Hidayat*
International Conference on Liberation of Al-Aqsa and Defending the Oppressed which took place in Selangor, Malaysia from May 17 to 18, 2014 issued 20 points declaration calling for Muslim leaders and Muslim Ummah to apply concrete actions to liberate Al-Aqsa and Palestine from Israeli occupation that is supported by US-led western countries.
The conference is organized by the World Muslim Clerics of Malaysia, Secretariat of the Association of Asian Overseas Scholars (SHURA), the Malaysian Ulama Association (PUM) and Malaysian Consultative Council for Islamic Organization (MAPIM).
Around 250 participants that include speakers, members of delegation and media people from the host country Malaysia and other Islamic countries including Indonesia, Palestine, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Iran, Pakistan and other countries.
Malaysian Opposition Leader, Datuk Sri Anwar Ibrahim as a keynote speaker to this conference in his speech titled “Role of Regional Political Unity For the Liberation of Al-Aqsa,” urged all parties, both the leaders of Muslim countries and Muslim Ummah to unite and struggle to liberate Al-Aqsa Mosque and Palestinians from Israeli occupation that is supported by US-led western countries.
Datuk Sri Anwar Bin Ibrahim (born 10 August 1947) is a Malaysian politician. He is the Leader of Opposition of Malaysia, economic advisor to the state government of Selangor and de facto leader of Partai Keadilan Rakyat (People Justice Party). He served as the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia from 1993 to 1998 and Finance Minister from 1991 to 1998 when he was in United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), a major party in ruling the National Front coalition.
Concrete steps and Boycott Israeli Products
Malaysian opposition leader Datuk Sri Anwar called on the leaders of Muslim countries not to be too bound by each political interests and should be more concerned with the interests of Muslims in the struggle to liberate the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Palestinians from the grip of Israeli colonists that is supported by the American-led western countries.
“Supporting the struggle for the liberation of Al- Aqsa and Palestine from Israeli occupation that is supported by the west was not just enough to talk or condemning Israel and America alone, but we should have the concrete steps for example by applying a strict boycott against Israeli products and products of Western companies which support Israel,” said Datuk Sri Anwar Ibrahim answering questions from MINA after he finished giving a speech at the conference.
Datu Sri Anwar Ibrahim, said Islamic mass media also have an important role in disseminating accurate information about the efforts to liberate Al-Aqsa and the Palestinian struggle for independence from Israeli occupation as well as the efforts of Islamic countries in supporting the Palestinian struggle, including the implementation of a boycott against Israeli products and products of companies that support Israel.
The other keynote speaker, Secretary General of International Council of Mazhab Proximity, Dr.Muhammad Hassan Thibroiyyan said “Muslims have a strong foundation that is the Islamic faith to unite in the struggle to liberate Al-Aqsa mosque and against the imperialist hegemony.”
Meanwhile the speakers from Indonesia include of Agus Sudarmaji, Leader of Aqsa Woorking Group, Indonesia with his paper titled “Role of Islamic Political Movement to Liberate Al-Aqsa” and Drs Yakhsyallah Mansur MA, Principal of Al-Fatah Islamic Boarding Schools Group with his paper titled “Role of Indonesian Islamic Movement to Strategize the Liberation of Al-Aqsa and Palestina, Synergizing Islamic Movements to Defend Al-Aqsa.”
Syarif Hidayat, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA), put forward to the conference his paper titled: “The Power of Islamic Media to Support the Liberation of Al-Aqsa and Palestine.” The submitted MINA paper becomes one of the conference documents that were distributed to all participants and media representatives who attended the conference.
Al-Aqsa is the third holiest mosque after Al-Haram in Mecca and An-Nabawiin Medina, Saud Arabia and the first Qibla of Muslims before changing to Al-Haram Mosque in Mecca.
The Declaration:
The complete declaration of the conference are as follows:
Al-Aqsa Belong to Muslims
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim (In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful). The God Almighty Allah in Al-Qur’an, gave ‘De-facto and De-jure’ proofs that Al-Aqsa belong to Muslims: “Glorified (and Exalted) is He (Allâh) [above all that (evil) they associate with Him]. Who took His slave (Muhammad SAW) for a journey by night from Al-Masjid-al-Harâm (at Makkah) to Al-Masjid-al-Aqsa (in Jerusalem), the neighbourhood whereof We have blessed, in order that We might show him (Muhammad SAW) of Our Ayât (proofs, evidences, lessons, signs, etc.). Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer.” (Al-Qur’an, Surah Al-Isra, Verse:1)
Alhamdulillah, with His Mercy and with great pleasure, we are very proud to be able to convene distinguish delegates of scholars and activists from various corners of the world to share their thoughts, experiences and knowledge in discussing the topic of Liberating Baitul Maqdis and defending the Rights of the Oppressed Ummah in this International Conference held in Malaysia from 17 to 18th of May 2014 – in the month of Rejab, the month of Isra’ Mi’raj, an important event for us, the Muslims.
We, the organising committee, herewith, outlining the declarations for this 2 days International Conference are as follows:
1.This conference re-emphasizes the stand taken by the people of the world who want peace and stability in West Asia that the continued occupation of Palestine is illegal and that the people of Palestine must be given the right of self determination to bring real peace to the region.
2.That the capitulation of Britain to the Zionists to establish the illegal state of Israel based on the Balfour Declaration of 1917 demonstrates Britain’s active and crucial role in its creation.
3.To liberate Palestine and al-Quds, continued dissemination of information on the real issue must be of top priority especially to educate the masses of the historical context of the Palestinian issue and to ensure that every generation will continue to press for the freedom of al Aqsa, al Quds and Palestine.
4.That to achieve the above objective, the OIC member countries must work with all organizations, institutions and movements that are committed to the liberation of Palestine.
5.That instead of the so-called two-state solution that is not going to materialize, we propose a one-state solution upon the dismantling of the illegal state of Israel so that both Palestinians and Jews can live in a united nation.
6.The Palestine authority becomes a signatory to the Rome Treaty and refer a complaint to the International Criminal Court to investigate and prosecute Israeli leaders and officials responsible for international crimes.
7.Since Israel is an apartheid state, an international anti apartheid campaign must be launched similar to the campaign against Sounth Africa which led to the dismantlement of the white racist state.
8.Support and implement the boycott, divestment and sanction campaign launched by the Palestinian civil society organizations.
9.In view of the violation of the treaties between Egypt and Israel and between the Palestinian authority and Israel, we urge Egypt and the Palestinian authority to withdraw from those treaties.
10.To emphasize the vital role of media to promote aggressively unity by all people of different schools of thought within Islam based on the Amman Declaration and to create organizations of Taqrib in relevant states.
11.Establish a front of scholars and preachers who would be recognized as the Scholars’ and Preachers’ Front for the Liberation of Palestine. This front will have a representative number that would be mobilized to address the Palestinian issue in their communities.
12.Create a Forum/Platform for NGOs of multi-ethnic, multi-religious composition which are concerned about justice for the Palestinians and other oppressed nations and operating in the country to advocate on this issue as one voice.
13.Establish an Institute for Palestine and Palestinian Studies for the purpose of preparing materials for dissemination to the public as well as producing material that may be used for use in education syllabi to ensure conscientizationof the younger generation about the Palestinian issue. This institute may also train personnel to speak about Palestine and be a focal point for experts (both men and women) in the area.
14.Prepare a Blueprint on how Palestinian history and Palestinian affairs may be included in the syllabus of schools and tertiary level education to ensure that the correct picture of the Palestinian issue is understood by coming generations and to counter the massive disinformation carried out by the Zionist-controlled Western media.
15. To encourage Muslim scholars with authority to issue fatwa on pressing matters regarding Palestine especially the boycott and divestment of Israeli goods and services.
16.Encourage masjids and musollas to put up Palestine Corners where the general masses may obtain current information on developments in Palestine. Materials would be provided by the Palestine Institute.
17. Declare the last Friday of Rejab as al Aqsa Day to carry out programs for liberation of al Aqsa.
18.Dedicate one Friday of every month during Jumaah prayer for reciting Qunut Nazilah for the liberation of al Aqsa, al Quds and Palestine.
19.Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) convenes a special meeting every two years of member states and NGOs to review the progress in the struggle to liberate al Aqsa, al Quds and Palestine.
20.A secretariat to be set up in Malaysia to oversee and monitor the implementation of the declaration.
MINA proposal of the Conference of Islamic Media
In a conversation with the Indonesian delegation: Agus Sudarmaji and KH.Yakhsallah Mansur about MINA plan to hold an international Islamic media conference to support the liberation of Masjid Al-Aqsa, Datuk Anwar supported it and is willing to attend the proposed conference as a speaker.
Islamic media also have an important role to increase awareness among Muslims throughout the world about the struggle of the liberation of Al- Aqsa and Palestine, said Anwar Ibrahim .
The Holding of Islamic media conference to launch a campaign for the liberation of Al-Aqsa Mosque which was the brainchild of General Manager/Editor-in-Chief of MINA, H. Muhyiddin Hamidy was listed in the MINA Deputy Editor in Chief ‘s paper that became one of the documents of international conference on the liberation of Al-Aqsa.
Islamic Mass Media: print media (newspapers and magazine etc) and electronic media (Islamic websites, Radios and TV stations) should pool together in the campaign to support the liberation of Al-Aqsa and Palestine from the Israeli occupation.
Here, we propose to this conference participants to hold an international Islamic media conference to integrate the campaign for supporting the liberation of Al-Aqsa and Palestine from Zionists occupation.
Indonesia would like to host this world media conference. (T/E01/IR)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
*Deputy Editor-in-Chief of MINA, Indonesia.
He can be contacted via emails: [email protected] and [email protected])
