JEDDAH: The Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Hissein Brahim Taha, on Wednesday met with Netherlands’ Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hanke Bruins Slot.
The meeting was held on the sidelines of his participation in the OIC oral pleadings before the International Court of Justice in The Hague regarding the occupation of the Palestinian Territories.
They discussed various issues of mutual interest in the meeting. The Secretary-General conveyed the OIC’s serious concerns about the ongoing Israeli occupation aggression against the Palestinian people, urging the Netherlands to exert more pressure on Israel to cease its aggression and facilitate the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
Moreover, the Secretary-General addressed the escalating phenomenon of Islamophobia and the desecration of sacred symbols, such as the burning of the Qur’an in the Netherlands. He expressed hope that Netherlands authorities would intensify efforts to combat such actions.
In response, Hanke Bruins Slot expressed her government’s understanding of the concerns of the Muslim world and emphasized the Dutch Government’s commitment to enhancing cooperation with the OIC. She also announced her government’s decision to appoint a special envoy from the Netherlands to the OIC.
