The 15th Islamic Summit Conference, held in Banjul on May 4–5, 2024, brought together heads of state and representatives from member countries of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to discuss pressing issues facing the Muslim world. Among the many critical topics addressed, the plight of the Rohingya Muslims received significant attention.
The summit reaffirmed its strong condemnation of the systematic and brutal genocidal acts, ethnic cleansing, crimes against humanity, and horrendous atrocities perpetrated against the Rohingya Muslim community in Myanmar. International law and human rights conventions denounced these actions, particularly the violent crackdown on August 25, 2017, as blatant violations.
In a decisive call to action, the conference urged the Myanmar government to protect all Rohingya Muslims and to take immediate measures to halt the genocide, ethnic cleansing, violence, and discriminatory practices against them. Furthermore, the summit expressed deep concern over the escalating clashes in Myanmar, particularly in Rakhine State, and the resulting atrocities against civilians. It called on all parties involved to exercise restraint and ensure that affected communities have access to humanitarian assistance.
The OIC commended The Gambia’s leading efforts at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to bring justice and accountability for the Rohingya Muslims. The conference applauded the ICJ’s historic decision to issue provisional measures to prevent further acts of genocide and establish the court’s jurisdiction under the Genocide Convention to hear The Gambia’s case.
Additionally, the conference called on Myanmar to take practical and time-bound steps to restore the citizenship of forcibly displaced Rohingya refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). This includes ensuring their voluntary, safe, dignified, and sustainable return to their homeland in Rakhine State. The OIC expressed its appreciation to Bangladesh for hosting 1.1 million Rohingya refugees and urged member states, OIC institutions, and Islamic NGOs to continue providing humanitarian assistance to alleviate the suffering of the Rohingya population.
The conference highlighted the need for sustained international support and called on member states to contribute generously to the OIC’s voluntary fund to support The Gambia’s legal case at the ICJ. This collective effort underscores the OIC’s commitment to seeking justice and ensuring the protection of the rights and dignity of Rohingya Muslims.
As the Banjul Summit concluded, the unified stance of the OIC on the Rohingya issue reinforced the organization’s dedication to addressing humanitarian crises and promoting solidarity among Muslim communities worldwide.
