Model OIC Summit ends with call for justice, unity, reform
The four-day summit, hosted by Beyoglu Anatolian Imam Hatip High School in partnership with the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum and the Beyoglu Education and Culture Foundation, gathered students from numerous countries to debate issues including Palestine, Syria, defense cooperation, and climate change. Following the declaration’s reading, delegates received gifts from the organizers.
Omar Abdurrahman of Lebanon, representing Albania in the Council of Al-Quds, called for unity based on Islamic principles, invoking the Qur’anic guidance to “hold fast to the rope of Allah” and urging youth to take leadership roles.
Aya Al-Asi of Palestine, representing Türkiye in the Council of Foreign Ministers, condemned “the failure of international organizations to protect the most basic human rights” in Gaza, criticized “the Zionist entity and its supporters,” and reaffirmed backing for Syria’s reconstruction and territorial integrity.
Kamaluddin Ali of Benin, representing Suriname in the Council of Al-Quds, highlighted the importance of developing defense industries for “independence, security, and peace” and cautioned about “the danger of threats related to global warming.”
Baken Gawhar of Kazakhstan, representing Tajikistan in the ICM Committee, supported “legal and economic measures” for Palestine and advocated reforming an international order that “marginalizes Muslim communities.”
Rizana Kayoshi of Kosovo, representing Niger in the ComSec Committee, called for closer collaboration on Syria’s reconstruction, defense industry development, and climate resilience strategies.
Muhammed Yusuf Geksu of Türkiye, representing Thailand in the ICM Committee, closed the declaration by expressing “high appreciation” for the organizers and praising the summit as “the most attended and a generally successful” gathering.
In the closing ceremony, the Beyoglu Education and Culture Foundation president noted the four days of rain as a blessing in Islamic tradition and urged students to remember Istanbul, Palestine, and Gaza, stating, “If we forget Palestine, we forget our own past. … Most importantly, we forget that we are human beings.”
ICYF President Taha Ayhan commended students’ discipline and engagement, describing the summit as a “leading platform” for youth involvement in global issues. He stressed the relevance of skills cultivated during the summit to Islamic principles of consultation, cooperation, and excellence.
Turkish Deputy Education Minister Celile Eren Okten highlighted cultural memory and identity, encouraging students to carry forward what they learned into their future work: “Remembering is family, remembering is identity.”
Delegates held parallel committees in English and Arabic, addressing topics such as Gaza, Syria, defense cooperation, and climate policy. These committees later merged into a single Islamic Summit session, adopting resolutions consolidated in the Istanbul Declaration.
Burak Omer Demir, founding president of the Beyoglu AIHL Model OIC Club, summarized the summit’s program, noting the rigorous schedule and activities including mosque visits and joint worship to give delegates a sense of Istanbul as a central point in Islamic life. He described the Istanbul Declaration as “the summary of what the youth wants to say to the world.”
Omer Faruk Gules, Secretary-General of the Model OIC Club, praised delegates for contributing ideas that strengthened the summit’s vision and described the declaration as a product “crafted with collective dedication to make the youth voice heard.”
In his final address, Turkish Presidential Chief Advisor Israfil Kisla congratulated the organizers and emphasized the significance of youth work on justice, particularly for Palestine, noting it is vital in “an era where Western values, human rights, and equality do not exist in practice.” He told students, “You will shape the future of the countries. May Allah enable you to establish a just system in which the rights of the people are not crushed by the strong.”
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