Executive Secretary OIC Ombudsman Association (OICOA) Mr. Almas Ali Jovindah briefed the media about the recently concluded 10th OICOA Board Meeting which was convened in Islamabad on January 30th at the Serena Hotel, marking a significant gathering of Ombudsmen and Ombudspersons from Islamic countries of OIC bloc.
This meeting, characterized by its solemn commitment to addressing global injustices, focused particularly on the dire circumstances faced by Palestinians under ceaseless bombardment. Distinguished Board Members from Republic of Turkiye, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Indonesia, Kingdom of Morocco, and Kingdom of Bahrain attended in person, while representatives from the Islamic Republic of Iran participated virtually, creating a diverse and unified front against the backdrop of these grave concerns.
“We must elevate our collective voice to echo the cries of the innocent who suffer daily. The brutalities of the Zionist regime cannot go unchallenged,” asserted Secretary General of OICOA and Federal Tax Ombudsman of Pakistan, Dr. AsifMahmoodJah. He called for action which went beyond empathy, urging the OICOA to transform their words into decisive, impactful advocacy. Dr. Jah emphasized the need for unified strength and action within the Ombudsman community. “Now, more than ever, our solidarity, effort, and cooperation are vital. We possess the power to drive change,” he inspired.
Mirroring this sentiment, President of OICOA and Chief Ombudsman of Turkiye, SerefMalkoc, brought attention to the escalating issue of Islamophobia in the European countries, challenging the international community’s commitment to democracy and the rule of law. He lamented the collapse of humanity witnessed in the ongoing Palestinian genocide and expressed his disappointment on the silence of global leaders amidst all the despair and devastation.
“Imagine, for months, over 2.5 million people in Gaza have lived under the shadow of bombs, their city reduced to rubble, their lives torn apart, and the world leaders are nothing, but silent spectators” Malkoc stated with palpable anguish. His condemnation of the use of illegal Phosphorus Bombs and the deafening silence of global powers like the USA, UK, and France was both an indictment and a call to conscience.
However, amidst the despair, Malkoc also carried a ray of hope as he said that “Brutality cannot last forever. Justice and humanity will ultimately prevail, and Palestinians will rise from these ashes,” he passionately proclaimed. He applauded South Africa’s initiative in bringing Israel’s actions to the International Court of Justice and stated that a letter of appreciation will soon be sent from his Office to the Ombudsman of South Africa. He also highlighted the critical role of the Turkish Ombudsman Institute’s comprehensive report on Gaza that was finalized on the 29th January, which he hopes will achieve the goal of broadening the reach of bringing Israeli’s atrocities and war crimes to the forefront and serve as an invaluable academic contribution.
The 10th OICOA Board Meeting also witnessed unanimous support from other Board Members of OICOA. Miss GhadaHameedHabib (Secretary-General of the Ombudsman of Kingdom of Bahrain), Mohamed Benalilou (Mediator of the Kingdom of Morocco), MokhammadNajih (Chairman of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia), Dr. Ahmed Rehmania (Vice President of General Inspection Organization of Islamic Republic of Iran), and Sabina Aliyeva (Human Rights Commissioner of Azerbaijan) all vehemently condemned the ongoing atrocities in Palestine. They supported the leadership of OICOA’s call for immediate and practical intervention by OICOA, aligning with the principles of international law, and pledged support from their respective ombudsman offices for bringing the atrocities of Zionist Israeli regime led by Benjamin Netanyahu to the forefront.
