'Muslim world to unite under Turkey's leadership'

By Muhammet Emin Avundukluoglu

ANKARA

A Turkish lawmaker said on Friday that the Muslim world will unite under the leadership of Turkey.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, Orhan Atalay, a lawmaker of the ruling Justice and Development (AK) party from eastern Ardahan province, called on all countries to recognize East Jerusalem as Palestine's capital.

Atalay welcomed the decision by Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) to recognize East Jerusalem as Palestine's capital.

"The decision by 57 countries recognizes the independent Palestine state," said Atalay.

The extraordinary OIC summit and its final declaration came in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and relocate Washington’s embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The OIC is the second-largest inter-governmental body after the United Nations, with its 57 member states spread over four continents.

It was established during a historic summit in Rabat, Morocco in 1969 following an arson attack on the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem.

Atalay said that Turkey had the ability to unite the Muslim world.

He said: "If Saudi Arabia would hold Turkey's one hand and Iran the other, the Islamic world will unite under the leadership of Turkey soon."