A University of Lagos (UNILAG) Senior Lecturer Dr Dele Ashiru has called on the international community to prevail on the Israel to obey all United Nations (UN) resolutions concerning Palestine.
Ashiru, who is the UNILAG Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Chairman, said Israeli belligerence portends danger for peace in the Middle East.
Ashiru spoke during Aqsa Day organised by Muslim Awareness International (MAI) held at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
According to him, it is imperative for the United States (US) to reverse its declaration and recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Palestinian crisis, he said, transcends ethno-religious boundaries.
“The struggle of the Palestinian people is a struggle for self-determination and justice. This struggle must be supported by all men of good conscience,” he said.
An Associate Professor of Islamic Studies at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) Dr AbdulLateef Adeyemo, said the issue of Palestine is the responsibility of all Muslims.
The world, he said, needs the Muslims to be united to create a balance of power, as it was before the collapse of the Ottoman Caliphacy in Turkey.
“One of plans of some world powers is to exacerbate the differences among the Muslims. When Muslims were united politically, culturally, economically and ideologically, Islamic civilisation contributed to world progress and dictated the pace for over 800 years. Hence, Muslims must say no to cultural differences and artificial geographic demarcations imposed by the imperialists,” Adeyemo said.
MAI Director AbdulWaheed Atoyebi said activists and intellectuals across the globe have keyed into the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign, a strategy that has helped isolate Israel.
The international community, he said, owes Palestine the duty to continue to support the BDS movement, which is putting a check on the aggression of the Zionist state
Atoyebi said: “The struggle of the people of Palestine as well as the Rohingyas in Myanmar, the Uighur in China, Saharawi Democratic Republic in Morocco and other places where people are under oppression borders on human rights – the right to freedom from oppression, and self-determination – as enshrined in various international laws, statutes and conventions.
“Hence, these are causes that should transcend racial or religious considerations and should be supported by all well-meaning people. In this vein, we commend all activists, important figures and personalities – academics, singers, entertainers and many others around the world who have expressed solidarity with the cause of the Palestinians.
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