Speaker Of The House Of Representatives, Puan Maharani, Emphasized That The Islamic World Must Be United, Close The 19th PUIC Session With The Call For Justice For Palestine

JAKARTA - The chairman of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Puan Maharani, officially closed the 19th Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States (PUIC) Conference in Jakarta. In her closing speech, Puan Maharani called for the importance of the unity of Muslim countries to face an increasingly complex global crisis, ranging from armed conflict, economic inequality, to injustice to women and children.

"PUIC must rise beyond resolution. Not just a diplomatic forum, but to be a driving force for change. We must be a catalyst for real challenges," said Puan in the Plenary Room of the Nusantara Building, Thursday (15/5/2025).

This conference also marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of PUIC. As the host, Indonesia invites member countries to strengthen concrete cooperation, especially in the Palestinian issue which received widespread attention in this forum.

"What happened in Gaza is not just a humanitarian disaster, but a moral crisis. Indonesia fully supports independence and peace for Palestine," said Puan.

For four days, PUIC discussed various strategic issues through six permanent committees: Women and Youth, Palestine, Muslim Minority, Sustainable Development, Political Affairs, and Culture. The big theme of the conference, Good Governance and Strong Institutions as Pillars of Resilience, is considered by Puan in line with Islamic values that uphold inclusive and accountable governance.

In addition, economic cooperation is also in the spotlight. Puan Maharani emphasized the importance of strengthening the network of halal trade, inclusive finance, and empowering the people. Soft power in the Islamic world must be strengthened through education, the role of young people, and women's leadership," he said.

Puan called the Jakarta declaration produced at this conference a collective commitment to fight for global justice, strengthen institutions, and reject violence in the name of religion.

"This is not just a diplomatic forum. This is a milestone," he said.

As the 19th PUIC President, Puan Maharani emphasized that Indonesia is ready to oversee the implementation of the declaration, including voicing the issue of Islamophobia, the fate of the Muslim minority, and the protection of civilians in conflict.

"We must be more active in creating peace, but the condition is that the Islamic world must unite and not be divided," he said.

The 19th PUIC was attended by delegates from 37 OIC member countries and a number of observers. Even though the conference is over, Indonesia will still hold the chairmanship of PUIC for the next year.

"This is pride for Indonesia. For the first time, PUIC is led by women," said Puan.

He closed his speech with an invitation to all member parliaments to bring the spirit of the Jakarta Declaration to their respective courtrooms.