Istanbul - Petra
Speaker of the Lower House of Parliament Atef Tarawneh said that "we in Jordan are determined to fight terrorism to protect Islam from accusations of terrorism, the killing of others, committing crimes, displacing people, and kidnapping children and women."
Tarawneh added in a speech at the10th session of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Member States, currently being held in Istanbul, that the fight against terrorism is also aimed at preserving the security of the country, the neighboring countries and the region, from terrorism that threatens out societies.
The speaker stressed the need for regional and international military and security efforts to fight terrorism, adding that His Majesty King Abdullah II affirms this fact during all his officials visits to various world countries.
"We, as members of the OIC, shoulder the responsibility of addressing these threats and countering all those who try to undermine the values of moderation and tolerance that our religion holds dear," he added.
Tarawneh condemned the Israeli practices against the Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip as well as its continued violations against the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.
Turkish President Recep Tayyep Erdogan opened the conference with a speech in which he highlighted the role that should be played by parliaments of Islamic states to pressure their governments to take positions that are in conformity with peoples' aspirations.
Erdogan reviewed the situation in Islamic states, mainly in Palestine, Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan, as well as the situation of Islamic minorities in world countries.
The Turkish president condemned the Israeli practices against the Palestinians in the occupied Palestinian lands and their continued violations against the holy sites in Palestine.
Tarawneh also met on the sidelines of the conference with speakers of the parliaments of Saudi Arabia, Iran, Kuwait, Iraq, Bahrain, and the UAE during which they discussed ties and stressed the need to coordinate issues of common interest.