A protocol was signed Thursday in Turkey’s cosmopolitan city of Istanbul heralding Jerusalem as the “Youth Capital of 2018.”
Jerusalem has been announced as the “Islamic World’s Youth Capital” for 2018 the Islamic Conference Youth Forum for Dialogue and Cooperation (ICYF-DC) President Elshad Iskandarov said.
“Our main objective in this program is that youngsters across the Islamic world flood to Jerusalem to see that our holy land is not left alone and to ensure that the Islamic characteristics of Jerusalem are officially supported” he said.
The protocol was signed by Palestinian Youth and Sports Minister Jibril Rajoub ICYF-DC President and Ambassador President Elshad Iskandarov at the Islamic Conference Youth Forum for Dialogue and Cooperation Headquarters at World Trade Center in Istanbul.
Iskandarov noted that Istanbul was the first Youth Capital of the Islamic world in 2016.
Israel’s recent violations of human rights in Palestine incidents that occurred around the al-Aqsa Mosque and civilians being subjected to violence were effective in reaching this decision Iskandarov said.
The event aims to have a lasting impact on Palestinian youth and to strengthen unity across the Islamic world for the sake of Jerusalem.
Palestinian Youth and Sport Minister Jibril Rajoub expressed appreciation for Jerusalem being announced as the youth capital.
Rajoub said that this project considered important by the Palestinian people aims to actualize goals and that it is not a symbolic one.
“This program will show that the Muslim world stands by Palestinians against the atrocities of Israel” he added.
