We, the Heads and Members of the delegations of the PUIC Member Parliaments participating in the proceedings of the 7th Session of the PUIC Conference held in the City of Palembang, Republic of Indonesia on 7-8, Rabi Ul Awwal, 1433H corresponding to 30-31, January 2012, under the slogan DEMOCRACY – JUSTICE – PROSPERITY;

Having discussed developments and challenges facing the Islamic world as included in the agenda of the Session, decided on the following: 

FIRST: PALESTINIAN ISSUE

1.    Emphasize that the Palestinian issue, being the core of the Middle East conflict, should remain the key issue on which Member States should take a unified Islamic position in international forums until the realization of the inalienable legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, represented in liberation from occupation and the establishment of the independent Palestinian state on the soil of Palestine with Al Quds Al Sharif as its capital;

2.    Strongly Support the request submitted by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) for recognition of the Palestinian State and its acceptance as a full-fledged member of the United Nations;

3.    Condemn the continued crimes perpetrated by the Israeli occupation authorities in Palestine especially in the Gaza Strip that claimed the lives of thousands of innocent martyrs and wounded people which constitute gross violations of Palestinian human rights. Demand punishing Israeli officials responsible for perpetrating all war crimes in Gaza Strip and all the other occupied Palestinian territories; Continuously denounce practices of exclusion, siege of the Palestinian people, and the Israeli repressive measures involving assassination, detention, demolition of houses, bulldozing land, establishment of settlements and erection of the separation wall. Call for large-scale action to put an end to the blockade. Demand expeditiously to take action to carry out reconstruction operations in Gaza Strip and obliterate traces of the barbaric Israeli assault from its land marks. 

4.    Stress the necessity of lending support to the steadfastness, bold resistance and determination of the Palestinian people to confront the Israeli aggression for the restoration of all their occupied territories. Welcome the agreement reached by Palestinian factions on ending the state of schism and realizing national reconciliation, leading to closing ranks and unifying stances for the achievement of national goals, including the right of return for all Palestinians. We pay tribute in this respect to efforts of the Arab Republic of Egypt which have resulted in the conclusion of the Cairo Agreement on 4/5/2011.

5.    Strongly reject Israel's plan to declare the occupied city of Al Quds as the capital of Israel and the Jewish people, considered as a direct aggression on the Palestinian people and their inalienable rights. Declare the city of Al Quds Al Sharif as a spiritual capital for all Arabs and Muslims and the ever-lasting capital of the State of Palestine.
 
6.    Strongly condemn continuation of excavation and demolition works undertaken by the Israeli occupied forces in the underneath and around Al-Aqsa Mosque considered a gross transgression on Islamic sanctities and the status of the City of Al Quds-al-Sharif; Call on the United Nations and the international community to fully bear their legal and moral responsibilities and to bring all forms of pressure to bear on Israel to bring its illicit actions to an end.
Declare our rejection of all Israeli measures which target the Arab and Islamic identity of the City of Al Quds and acts at its Judaization.

7.    Declare the constitution of a Standing Parliamentary Committee called (Palestine Committee) to be composed of thirteen PUIC Member Parliaments; welcome the invitation of Turkey to host the First Meeting of this Committee.

8.    Strongly condemn the Israeli settlement expansionist policy; Emphasize the necessity of halting settlement-related activity as well as legal and administrative measures and procedures intended to change the legal status and demographic composition of the City of Al-Quds; Call on the UN Security Council to act promptly to dismantle Israeli settlements in compliance with its resolution No (465), while underscoring the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their lands from which they have been forced to emigrate.

9.    Commend efforts of the Palestinian side which led to the release of  large numbers of Palestinians from Israeli prisons, and demands ensuring the rights of released Palestinian strongly condemn the practices of the Israeli entities such as the arrest of Dr. Aziz Al Duwaik, Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council and a number of members of the council, as well as parliamentary and political figures, and demand their immediate release.

10.    Demand freezing membership of Israel in the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) because of Israel’s arresting Palestinian parliamentarians and its disrespect of international law through violation of the rights and free action by Palestinian parliamentarians.

11.    Emphasize the necessity of implementing the resolution concerning the visit of a delegation of speakers of PUIC Member Parliaments to Gaza, and request H.E. Dr. Marzuki Alie, in his capacity as PUIC President, to follow up the matter.

SECOND: IRAQ

1.    Express satisfaction with the evacuation of foreign forces from Iraqi territories and the restoration of Iraq’s national sovereignty.

2.    Invite States of PUIC Member Parliaments to support the Iraqi government's efforts to restore security and stability as well as realize national reconciliation in Iraq. Welcome the decision by a number of Member States to resume the work of their diplomatic missions in Iraq. Invite also the rest of the Member States to open or reopen their embassies and diplomatic missions in Baghdad.

THIRD: LEBANON
      
1.    Emphasize Lebanon's legitimate right of resistance to complete liberation of occupied Lebanese territories and defend its sovereignty, security and national resources which are endangered by the Israeli entities.

2.    Express our solidarity with Lebanon and determination to maintain cooperation with the Lebanese government to enable it to bring about security and stability under national unity.

3.    Invite Islamic states to shoulder their responsibilities for reconstruction of Lebanon and building of what had been destroyed by the outrageous Israeli war.  

FOURTH: SYRIA

Underscore support of Syria’s right in restoring the occupied Syrian Arab Golan; Commend the steadfastness of Syrian citizens in the Golan and their attachment and clinging to their Syrian Arab land and identity; Further assert that Israel’s decisions to impose its laws and administration on the occupied Syrian Golan are null and in contravention with international laws.

FIFTH: THE SUDAN

1.    Emphasize our backing of the Sudan in the face of any and all foreign threats; show solidarity with it in defense of its sovereignty, security and stability; Highly Value all the good efforts, regionally and internationally, to bring about peace in Darfur; Call on the international community to fulfill all its declared commitments for the realization of peace and sustainable development in the Sudan.

2.    Welcome the signing of the Doha document for peace in Darfur by the government of the Sudan and the armed factions and highly appreciate the constructive role played by the sisterly State of Qatar and all parties in order to draw up this document which has laid down a solid foundation for security, stability and development.

3.    Request Islamic states to increase their developmental, financial and technical assistance, to address the root causes of the problem.

4.    Declare our rejection of the decision of the International Criminal Court on 4/3/2009 including an arrest warrant against His Excellency President Omar Hassan El Bashir; Call for the final revocation of this decision unconditionally.

SIXTH: SOMALIA

1.    Urge all the categories of the Somali people to achieve comprehensive national reconciliation so as to be able to restore security, stability to the country and preserve the unity, sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Somalia. 

2.    Call for extending urgent material and moral support to the Somali people to face the famine which ravished the country and in which thousands of people perished

3.    Call for immediate halt to actions of piracy that have threatened security, peace as well as freedom of international navigation. Appeal to Muslim States to extend aid to Somalia in order to confront this phenomenon.  

SEVENTH:     PEACEFUL USE OF NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY

Emphasize the right of all countries to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes including their nuclear energy cycle policies in accordance with the Non-Nuclear Proliferation Treaty; Voice our concern over restrictions imposed by some countries with regard to international cooperation in the field of research and transfer of equipment, materials and technology for peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Such restrictions are in conflict with Article 4 of the NPT. Denounce escalating pressures and threats, wherever surfaced, to prevent exercise of this legal right. Stress the necessity of settling differences by using peaceful diplomatic means.

EIGHTH:     MAKING THE MIDDLE EAST A ZONE FREE OF WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION                      

Express our strong concern over Israeli nuclear capacities and threats. Emphasize the necessity of subjecting Israel to opening its nuclear facilities and programs for control and inspection in line with the rules of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and ensuring its accession to the Non-Nuclear Proliferation Treaty as well as freeing the Middle East of weapons of mass destruction, which constitutes the basis of security and stability in the region and enables avoidance of double standards in international dealing.

NINTH:     CYPRUS

1.    Call upon Member States to enhance effective solidarity with the Turkish-Cypriot State and maintain close association with it with a view to overcoming the unjust isolation imposed on it and strengthen relations in all domains. Reaffirm energizing previous resolutions adopted by both the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation and the PUIC on the Cypriot issue.

2.    Welcome the willingness shown by the Turkish-Cypriot side and Turkey to reach a viable political settlement in agreement with the plan of the UN Secretary General.

3.    Call on Greece to view the necessity of respecting the rights of the Muslim Turkish minority in Western Thrace and Dodecanese; Demand that it takes measures to prevent acts of vandalism against mosques, places of worship and cemeteries of Muslims in this region.

TENTH: JAMMU AND KASHMIR

Call for finding a peaceful settlement of Jammu and Kashmir issue consistently with relevant UN resolutions and as agreed in Simla in particular. Support peace-seeking diplomatic efforts of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan including bilateral talks with India, taking into consideration the right of Jammu and Kashmir citizens to self-determination.
 
ELEVENTH: AZERBAIJAN

1.    Demand strict implementation of Security Council resolutions No 822, 853, 874 and 884 as well as the immediate, full and unconditional withdrawal of Armenian troops from all occupied Azerbaijani territories; Strongly urge Armenia to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan. 

2.    Condemn the savage aggression against mosques and Islamic holy places resulting in the massive loss of Islamic, monumental and cultural heritage in Azerbaijani territories; Condemn also the horrific massacre which took place in the Azerbaijani town of Khojali in 1992 and demand the prosecution of those responsible for it.

3.    Reaffirm full solidarity and support of efforts made by the government and people of the Republic of Azerbaijan in defense of their territories; Urge to provide humanitarian assistance to Azerbaijani refugees and displaced persons who are facing harsh living conditions in preparation for their return to their homes from which they have been dispersed.

TWELFTH: SOLIDARITY WITH TURKEY

Call for paying no heed to the decision of the French legislative authority concerning criminalsing denial of Armenians allegations; Emphasize that reviving differences back from history does not help in establishing positive interaction between nations, therefore the unilateral initiative by the legislative authority in France concerning the historical Turkish-Armenian differences, which are currently being negotiated between Turkey and the Republic of Armenia will not help to advance these negotiations. Furthermore curtailing history, as France is doing through its aforementioned initiative, is basically in contradiction with the freedom of expression, world values and the principles of international law, and that it is better to leave writing of history to historians.

THIRTEENTH: TERRORISM

1.    Condemn the phenomenon of terrorism. Confirm that this phenomenon is in stark conflict with the teachings of Islam which call for tolerance, mercy, rejection of violence and forbiddance of other forms of aggression, especially murder, regardless of color, religion or ethnicity.

2.    Emphasize the inevitability of separation between terrorism in all its manifestations and forms and the states' and peoples' rights to legitimate resistance and armed struggle against occupation and colonialism for the liberation of their homelands and the retrieval of their legitimate rights as enshrined in the UN Charter and all international conventions and instruments, being an authentic right of peoples under occupation. Call for the convocation of an international conference to define the concept of terrorism and develop a code of conduct among states as well as the establishment of an international center for combatting terrorism, especially organized State terrorism. Support the call of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to establish an international center for combatting terrorism.

3.    Strongly condemn terrorist acts which have targeted researchers, scientists and university professors in a number of Muslim countries, especially the Islamic Republic of Iran.
 
FOURTEENTH: DYNAMICS OF PEOPLE’S IN THE ISLAMIC WORLD

1.    Welcome the dynamics of people in the Islamic World, if it leads to positive and constructive results.

2.    Call for stressing the commitment of our governments to the principles of human rights and allowing their peoples to exercise their human rights and basic freedoms in accordance with the teaching of our tolerant religion.  We also call for strengthening values of consultancy, democracy and relevant rules of the international law.

FIFTEENTH: ECONOMIC AFFAIRS

1.    Express concern over the far-reaching negative implications of the global economic and financial crisis on the economic growth of Member States and their development plans, balances of payment and capacity to access international finance and foreign investment.

2.    Underline the necessity of ensuring suitable representation of the Islamic world in all ongoing negotiations on the impacts of the global financial crisis, such as activities of the G-20, to become more balanced and responsive to the respective demands of Islamic countries.

3.    Strongly reject the principle of imposing sanctions on states whether unilaterally or multilaterally; Express our absolute solidarity with Islamic states subject to such sanctions; Stress that economic and financial measures should not be used as tools for political coercion.

4.    Call for providing assistance to the poorest Islamic countries and others vulnerable to natural disasters and social unrest to help them overcome their plights and engage in the development process.

5.    Call for increasing intra-trade between OIC Member States; and support strengthening the role of Islamic Banks in the financial system and the economic growth of these States.

SIXTEENTH: LEGAL AFFAIRS, HUMAN RIGHTS AND ENVIRONMENT

1.    Emphasize the importance of cooperation with the OIC in implementing the Ten-Year Plan of Action and request expediting accession or ratification of agreements concluded in the framework of the OIC aimed at energizing these agreements

2.    Recommend the necessity of teaching a special course on the values of (shora ), democracy and human rights in the PUIC States as part of school curricula in a way which conforms with the Islamic Sharia. Reject double standards in evaluating issues of human rights in the various countries.
 
3.    Call for establishing a legal framework in order to make national legislations of the Member States more harmonized with the international conventions on the rights of migrant workers. Call also for facilitating access of migrant workers to access to the judicial system while observing the principle of equality before the law without discrimination, and finding appropriate means to deal with the victims of violence specially women working outside their countries.

4.    Call on non-Muslim States where Muslims live to ensure and provide civil rights to these Muslims, including their right to equitable human treatment. Stress that religious and ethnic minorities in the Islamic world are an integral part of their societies and states and that they exercise their full citizenship as regards rights and duties. 

5.    Appeal to the Member Parliaments to request their respective governments to formulate a comprehensive sustainable policy aimed at enhancing economic growth and developing social conditions and protecting the environment.

SEVENTEENTH: WOMEN, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS

1.    Commend the parliaments which have established focal units on dialogue between civilizations and call for developing their work by various means. Call for preparing a plan to realize effective and constructive dialogue between the Islamic and Western civilizations as well as projecting a true and positive image of the Islamic civilization. Appeal to the Islamic Development Bank and Islamic Solidarity Fund to support this project. Commend the establishment of a center for dialogue between followers of religions and culture in Vienna which the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has sought to establish and support.

2.    Call for involving Muslim women parliamentarians regularly in all PUIC conferences and in the decision-taking process within the Union. Highly appreciate the initiative of the Indonesian Parliament to organize a conference of Muslim women parliamentarians in Palembang on January 27, 2012. Also highly appreciate the approval of the National Assembly of the Republic of the Sudan to host the second Conference of Muslim women parliamentarians as part of the proceedings of the 8th Session of the PUIC Conference which will be held in Khartoum in 2013. Also highly appreciate the approval of the House of Representatives of the Kingdom of Morocco to host the a Conference of Muslim Women Parliamentarians which will be held during 2012.

3.    Urge to take action to implement the Rabat Declaration adopted by the Islamic Conference of Ministers in charge of children.

4.    Request enactment of legislations which help the combatting epidemics and to cooperate with regional and international organizations to check the spread of epidemics.

5.    Call on our governments to act so that the UN may adopt a resolution ensuring  total respect for all divine religions and not to utilize freedom of expression to insult any religion.  Also call for putting an end to the phenomenon of religious hatred between people.

6.    Strongly condemn the republication of caricatures which insult Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) and demand immediate cessation of these provocations.
 
7.    Urge Member States to pay attention to education and establishment of research Centres for the issue of Muslim youth in order to prepare them for confronting negative impacts of globalization and to preserve their Muslim identity.

8.    Commend the decision of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to involve women as full members of the Shoura Council as well as granting women the right of election and candidacy in municipal council.

EIGHTEENTH: ISLAMIC PARLIAMENTARY DECLARATION

Declare the formation of a committee of experts to draw up a Draft Islamic Parliamentary Declaration, composed of nine experts from the Member Parliaments, and that the first meeting of this committee shall be held within two months in the State of the United Arab Emirates as per the proposal made by the Federal National Council.

NINETEENTH: MOTION OF THANKS

The Conference expresses sincere thanks and appreciation to the government, people and officials of the Republic of Indonesia, and expresses special thanks and gratitude to the House of Representatives of Indonesia for their generous hospitality and excellent preparations which have resulted in the success of the proceedings of the 7th Session of the PUIC Conference.  The Conference highly appreciates all the efforts that have been exerted in order to achieve the cherished objectives and expresses its good wishes for progress and prosperity to the leaders and people of Indonesia.