18/11/2025
Follow Me🏴 | In February 1974, the Lahore OIC Summit brought together some of the most influential Muslim leaders of the era, filling the moment with hope for unity and strength in the ummah. King Faisal of Saudi Arabia arrived as a moral anchor of the Muslim world; Muammar Gaddafi of Libya as a fiery champion of anti-imperialism; Anwar Sadat of Egypt as a statesman balancing war and diplomacy; Zulfikar Ali Bhutto as Pakistan’s confident host; Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the newly recognized leader of Bangladesh; and Yasser Arafat as the voice of the Palestinian struggle. Their gathering symbolized reconciliation, cooperation, and the dream of Muslim nations acting as a cohesive force in global affairs.Yet the unity of Lahore was followed by a dark wave of tragedy as one after another met violent or deeply suspicious ends. King Faisal was assassinated in 1975 by his nephew. Mujibur Rahman was killed later that same year in a bloody military coup. Bhutto was overthrown in 1977 and executed in 1979 after a controversial trial. Sadat was assassinated in 1981 during a military parade. Arafat died in 2004 under circumstances many believe involved poison, though never officially proven. Gaddafi was captured and killed amid the chaos of the 2011 Libyan uprising. Their fates cast a somber shadow over the summit’s legacy, turning what was once a shining symbol of Muslim unity..af -
