ISTANBUL DECLARATION Adopted by the 51st Session of OIC Council of Foreign Ministers
ISTANBUL DECLARATION Adopted by the 51st Session of OIC Council of
Foreign Ministers (Under the Theme: the OIC in a Transforming World) (21 - 22
June 2025) (25th – 26th Dhuʻl-Hijjah 1446H)
ISTANBUL DECLARATION Adopted by the 51st Session of OIC Council of
Foreign Ministers (Under the Theme: the OIC in a Transforming World) (21 - 22
June 2025) (25th – 26th Dhuʻl-Hijjah 1446H)
Date: 22-06-2025
We, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Heads of Delegation of the Member States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation ( OIC),
participating in the 51st Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM), held in stanbul, Türkiye, on 21-22 June 2025,
Reaffirming our firm commitment to the purposes, objectives and principles of our Organization as well as to all the resolutions adopted by
the OIC Summits and the Council of Foreign Ministers,
Determined to further strengthen the bonds of unity and solidarity among the Islamic Ummah,
Express the aspiration of OIC, the second largest international organization after the UN, to play an increasing role in an environment
of international fragmentation, weakened international institutions and transforming world, and, the need of accelerating reforms to scale
up OIC as a major international actor in terms of regional and global stability, shifting geostrategic balances, multilateralism, rule based
international system,
2. Reaffirm the centrality of the Palestinian cause for the OIC, established in 1969 following the arson attack on Masjid Al Aqsa, firm
support for the establishment of a sovereign, independent, contiguous Palestinian state on the 1967 lines with East Jerusalem as its
capital and that two-State solution is the only viable solution to reach peace and stability in the region for all,
3. Reaffirm the importance of convening, as soon as possible, the United Nations High-Level Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of
the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution and relevant United Nations resolutions, under the cochairmanship of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the French Republic; resuming the work of the working groups established pursuant to
the conference; and redoubling efforts to ensure its success; and call all UN Member States to participate actively in the conference once
its new date is announced,
4. Condemn the ongoing Israeli campaign of genocide against the Gaza Strip, which has continued for over 19 months, as well as the
systematic campaigns of destruction and killing in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, aimed at eliminating the Palestinian cause,
including the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination; reaffirm the importance of achieving a permanent and sustainable ceasefire
and of implementing Security Council Resolution 2735, with a view to ending the aggression, advancing the Arab-Islamic recovery and
reconstruction plan for the Gaza Strip, and ensuring the provision of political and financial support to the Palestinian Government to enable
it to assume its responsibilities in the Gaza Strip, as it does in the West Bank, including Eastern Al-Quds,
5. Support the intensive diplomatic efforts of the Ministerial Committee established by the Joint Arab-Islamic Summit on Gaza to press
for an immediate ceasefire, the delivery of humanitarian aid to all areas of the Gaza Strip, and the initiation of practical steps toward the
implementation of the two-State solution,
6. Condemn the actions of Israel, the occupying Power, in using starvation as a method of genocide by obstructing the entry of
humanitarian assistance and preventing United Nations humanitarian agencies from carrying out their mandates, with the aim of forcibly
displacing the Palestinian population. In this regard, we call for the rejection of all forms of forced displacement of the Palestinian people,
the urgent opening of crossings and borders, the unimpeded and adequate delivery of humanitarian aid, and the provision of protection for
the Palestinian civilian population,
7. Express support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in the Near East for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) which plays an
irreplaceable role in providing services to Palestine refugees and call on the international community to continue their support to UNRWA
both politically and financially in the face of worsening humanitarian situation in the occupied Palestinian lands, including al-Quds,
8. Express our unequivocal rejection of any schemes aimed at forcibly displacing Palestinians from their land, as such action constitutes
a liquidation of the Palestinian Cause and a grave violation of international law; and also reject Israel's systematic targeting of the
essential life necessities in Gaza with the deliberate intention of creating impossible living conditions and thus forcing Palestinians to
leave their land,
9. Affirm our support for the Arab-Islamic Plan for Early Recovery and Reconstruction of the Gaza Strip, which demonstrates that it is
possible to reconstruct the Strip without the need to displace Palestinians; and commend Egypt’s humanitarian efforts to ensure the
delivery of humanitarian and relief aid to the Strip.
10. Express our deep concern over the Israeli attempts to alter the civilizational features of the City of Al-Quds Al-Sharif, distort its Arab
and Islamic character, and undermine its legal status—particularly efforts aimed at changing the status quo at Al-Aqsa Mosque, and stress
the need to preserve the identity of the Holy City as a symbol of tolerance and coexistence among the three monotheistic religions, and to
support its steadfast inhabitants. In this regard, we commend the efforts of Al-Quds Committee and its executive arm, the Bayt Mal AlQuds Al-Sharif Agency,
11. Condemn destabilization policies of Israel in the region and its recent attacks on Iran, Syria, and Lebanon, constituting flagrant
violation of sovereignty and security of these countries and international law; call on the international community to take deterrent
measures to stop this aggression and make Israel accountable for crimes committed; decides to establish an open ended Ministerial
Contact group, which will be tasked with establishing regular contacts with the relevant regional and international parties, in order to
support Descalation efforts، stop the aggression against Iran and to achieve a peaceful settlement,
12. Condemn firmly the aggression of Israel against the Islamic Republic of Iran, stress the urgent need to stop Israeli attacks and their
great concern regarding this dangerous escalation, threatening human, economic and environmental situation in the region.
13. Express solidarity with the government and people of Pakistan, express our deep concern over the recent military escalation in the
South Asia region, including the unjustified strikes carried out on multiple locations in Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and stress
the need to exercise maximum restraint and avoid actions that would destabilize the region,
14. Emphasize that the ceasefire, announced on 10 May 2025, must be faithfully adhered to, in the interest of regional peace and
stability; Acknowledge, with appreciation, the efforts made by various Member States for de-escalation of tensions;
15. Call for strict adherence to bilateral agreements, including Indus Waters Treaty; and stress the importance of a broad-based dialogue
for peaceful settlement of all outstanding disputes between Pakistan and India;
16. Recall the two reports of the UN Security Council Panel of Experts (No. S/2024/65), dated 15 January 2024, and (No. 2025 / 239),
dated 14 January 2025,
17. Express deep concern over growing Islamophobia, a form of racism and discrimination, condemn all acts of violence based on
religion or belief, hate speech and extremism motivated by discrimination on the grounds of religion, as well as efforts fueling intercultural
divisions and tensions; call on the international community to take effective measures to combat extremism, hate speech, defamation of
religions, negative stereotyping and the stigmatization of people on the basis of religion, belief or ethnicity at the national and global level,
18. Underline that terrorism and extremism cannot be associated with any religion, race, ethnicity or nationality and should be
unequivocally condemned regardless of its forms and manifestations that continue threatening the global peace and security,
19. Affirm the experience and capacity acquired by some member countries during decolonization process are granting to the OIC an
important capacity for mediation resolving conflicts between the OIC Member States and other UN member states,
20. Welcome the progress in the normalization process between the Republic of Azerbaijan and Armenia, including the conclusion of
negotiations on the bilateral Agreement on Establishment of Peace and Inter-State Relations, and urge Armenia to address the remaining
legal and political obstacles to for its signing, and thus, cease and desist from undermining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of
Azerbaijan. Reaffirm our full solidarity with the Government and People of Azerbaijan in their efforts to rehabilitate and reconstruct the
liberated territories, heavily impacted by Armenian aggression, and call on OIC member states to actively support Azerbaijan’s demining
efforts, which are vital for ensuring safety, enabling reconstruction, and securing the dignified return of displaced persons;
21. Express our support for the tangible and commendable efforts undertaken by the OIC Member States: the People’s Democratic
Republic of Algeria, the Federal Republic of Somalia and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in the context of their non-permanent
membership in the UN Security Council and their advocacy in support of Islamic causes,
22. Welcome the efforts of the Syrian interim government for the integration of Syria into the regional and international system,
emphasize to sustain political and financial support to Syria in order to ensure stability and security; express support for the initiation of
cooperation between the Republic of Türkiye and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group aimed at contributing to early recovery and
reconstruction efforts in Syria, and encourage the exploration of joint efforts to address priority needs in sectors such as energy and
infrastructure,
23. Affirm our principled position calling for respecting the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and unity, and non-interference
in the internal affairs of all the Member States,
24. Support the aspirations of the Muslim Turkish Cypriots to secure their inherent rights and stress the importance of finding a
negotiated, mutually acceptable, just, lasting and sustainable settlement of the Cyprus issue and emphasize the importance of developing
contacts with the Muslim Turkish Cypriots in order to overcome the unjust isolation imposed upon them,
25. Reiterate our support for the Turkish Muslim Minority of Western Thrace and Turkish Muslim Population of the Dodecanese in Greece
to ensure the full enjoyment of their basic rights and freedoms and affirm that their religious and cultural rights should be duly respected,
26. Express deep concern over the destiny of hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis forcibly and systematically expelled from the
territory of the present-day Armenia, and condemn the destruction and misappropriation of Islamic cultural heritage therein as a serious
violation of international law. Reaffirm the inalienable right of expelled Azerbaijanis to peaceful, safe and dignified return to their places of
origin in the territory of the resent-day Armenia in accordance with international law, and deplore Armenia’s refusal to engage in dialogue
with the Western Azerbaijani Community, non-governmental organizations advocating for the restoration of the violated human right of the
Azerbaijanis expelled from the territory of present-day Armenia.
27. Renew solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir and express full support for their inalienable right to self-determination in
accordance with the relevant UN Security Council and OIC resolutions, and the wishes of the Kashmiri people; and condemn the massive
human rights violations in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir,
28. Express our concern over the grave human rights violations primarily against the Rohingya Muslim community, as well as other
Muslim groups in Myanmar, call for urgent actions to defend the fundamental rights and freedoms of this community, confirm our strong
commitment to bring to a successful conclusion of the case filed by the Gambia before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against
Myanmar, and speedy repatriation of the forcibly Displaced Rohingyas to Myanmar, their homeland,
29. Regarding express our deep concern over the destructive policies pursued by the leadership of the Republika Srpska entity, which
have placed undue pressure on the judicial system and institutions, thereby undermining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia
and Herzegovina and posing a serious threat to the foundations of the Dayton Peace Agreement and the Constitutional order of Bosnia
and Herzegovina’s constitutional and institutional order and urge all international partners to collaborate in ensuring adherence to the
Dayton Peace Agreement and the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina,
30. Commend the vital role of the COMCEC towards addressing the common development challenges of the Member States through its
flagship programs and projects, sectoral working groups and project support programs,
31. Commend the efforts of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in protecting and safeguarding the Islamic and Christian holy sites in the
city of Al-Quds, and stress the significant role of the historical Hashemite custodianship of these sanctities in protecting and preserving
their Arab, Islamic and Christian identity, and maintaining the current historical and legal status quo,
32. Commend the UNESCO Resolutions designating Al-Aqsa Mosque and Al-Haram Al Qudsi Al Sharif as synonymous names, and
reaffirm that Bab Al Magharbeh is an integral part of Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif, and the right of the “Directorate of Al-Aqsa
Mosque and Jerusalem Affairs” of the Jordanian Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs and Holy Sites to restore Bab Al Magharbeh
and undertake the maintenance and preservation of Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif, and regulate entry into it, being the sole legal
authority with exclusive jurisdiction over Al-Aqsa Mosque with its entire area of 144 dunums, as a place of worship exclusively for Muslims,
protected by the international law and the historical and legal status quo,
33. Welcome the upcoming Islamic Summit Conference to be convened in Azerbaijan in 2026 and look forward to its contribution to
unity, solidarity, and cooperating within the Islamic world.