Iranian official:

Saudi accountable for OIC inefficiency

Rasa - Saudi Arabia is using the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) as a tool and is responsible for the body’s ineptitude to help solve conflicts in Muslim countries, an Iranian official says.

News ID: 425168

Date: 19 November 2016 - 20:29

RNA - "Saudi Arabia is responsible for the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's incompetence and has taken this organization as hostage to counter some of the body’s member countries. [The issue of East Jerusalem] al-Quds has slipped into oblivion in practice,” said Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, the Iranian parliament speaker's special advisor on international affairs, on Saturday.

He pointed to the OIC's negligence on the fate of al-Quds, which is the main reason behind the organization’s formation, and said, “The Organization of Islamic Cooperation has overlooked its priorities due to wrong interference and pressure by Saudi Arabia.”

He criticized Riyadh’s instrumental use of the OIC, saying, “Instead of cooperating with Muslim countries and helping solve complicated political and security crises in the region, this organization is creating crisis under Saudi pressure.”

Amir-Abdollahian added that the OIC adopts no measures in practice to counter the Israeli regime and defend the oppressed Palestinian people.

He warned that the OIC will suffer a setback if it refrains from putting an end to its unconstructive approach and one-sided objectives.

The Iranian official emphasized that Saudi Arabia will be held accountable if the OIC fails to fulfill its duty to help establish security, peace and stability in Muslim countries.

The occupied territories have been the scene of increased tensions ever since Israeli forces imposed restrictions on the entry of Palestinian worshipers into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in August 2015.

Al-Aqsa Mosque is the third holiest site in Islam.

More than 260 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since the beginning of October 2015.

847/940