Palestinian president, OIC chief hail naming Jerusalem as Capital of Islamic Culture

Ramallah: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expressed his appreciation to all those who contributed to the selection of Jerusalem as the permanent capital of Islamic culture.
In his speech to the festival celebrating Jerusalem Capital of the Islamic Culture, launched in the West Bank city of Jericho on Friday, Abbas commended the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), its General Secretariat and all the member states.
He called on the Islamic nations “to keep their lamps in Jerusalem burning with the light of good, truth, and peace, and that Jerusalem is lit up by its people and its loved Arab, Muslim and Christian ones.”
In turn, OIC Secretary General Dr. Yousef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen thanked the Palestinian leadership, represented by President Mahmoud Abbas, and congratulated him on the selection of Jerusalem as the capital of Islamic culture.
In a recorded message to the festival, Al-Othaimeen said the announcement of Jerusalem as the capital of Islamic culture came at just the right time in the right place, due to the status of Jerusalem in the hearts of all Muslims. He stressed that the selection of Jerusalem sends a symbolic message asserting its centrality in Muslim conscience, not only because of being the first Qibla of Islam but also because of being at the heart of Islamic culture.
The OIC chief called on everyone to take advantage of this occasion to highlight the true face of Jerusalem through cultural events, in order to affirm solidarity with Jerusalemites and the Palestinians in general.