Jerusalem:The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has condemned Colombia’s opening of an embassy in occupied Jerusalem, stating that the move violates international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

According to Qatar News Agency, OIC Secretary-General Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed remarked that the decision contradicts Security Council Resolution 478, adopted in 1980. This resolution called on countries to withdraw their diplomatic missions from Jerusalem and declared Israel’s actions to change the city’s character and status as null and void.

The OIC expressed its opposition to any actions that would entrench Israel’s occupation or legitimize its claimed sovereignty over occupied Jerusalem. The organization emphasized the need to support international efforts to achieve a just peace based on a two-state solution.

Ould Cheikh Ahmed stated that he had communicated with Colombia’s foreign minister, urging a reversal of the embassy decision. He argued that the move aligns with Israeli attempts to alter Jerusalem’s character, legal status, and demographic composition, thus undermining Palestinian rights.

The secretary-general also underscored Jerusalem’s religious and historical importance to Muslims and Christians globally. He cautioned that Colombia’s decision could have lasting repercussions on its relations with Muslim-majority nations.