JEDDAH: The Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha on Sunday welcomed the reinstatement of the Syrian Arab Republic’s membership of the body, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Taha called it a historic decision that reaffirmed the organization’s support for the Syrian people during a critical period in the country’s history, the SPA added.

The decision was approved during the 20th Extraordinary Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Jeddah on Friday.

The participants also addressed Israel’s ongoing aggression against the Palestinian people and calls for their displacement from their land.

Taha emphasized that Syria’s reinstatement was aimed at facilitating a peaceful and secure political transition that restores the country’s institutions, territorial integrity, and standing among nations.

He also reiterated the general secretariat’s commitment to working closely with Syria in support of the OIC’s objectives and Islamic unity.

Syria was suspended from the OIC in 2012 following the outbreak of its brutal civil war, with member states citing concerns over human rights violations and the conflict’s impact on regional stability.

Its return marks a significant diplomatic shift, reflecting renewed engagement between Damascus and regional actors, the SPA reported.

The OIC, comprising 57 member states, has long played a leading role in addressing conflicts across the Muslim world.