ISTANBUL: Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Conference, Iyad Ameen Madni on Thursday urged just and honest solutions to the problems, being faced by Muslim nations as he hoped that proposed 10-year plan of action would go a long way to improve the situation.
Speaking at the opening session of the OIC summit here, the Secretary General said, “this programme will be of key importance for the Muslim countries for resolving outstanding issues and setting the future course of mutual harmony and progress of the people.”
“We all share a common responsibility for the implementation of this programme to counter Islamophobia and bring normalcy to strife torn regions,” he added.
The Secretary General focussed on a number of issues like terrorism, suicide attacks, kidnapping and maligning Muslims for whatever was happening in non-Muslim countries.
“We are the worst sufferer of terrorism but are also blamed for it that is a cause of concern. But, the fact is that Islam neither supports terrorism nor there is any space in our religion for such activities.”
He also urged the member states to stand united against terrorism and counter the propaganda waged to malign Islam in the name of terrorism.
He mentioned to situation in Afghanistan, Central African countries and especially to Libya, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Karabakh and said this situation needs a just and collective approach to resolve the disputes.
“People in Jammu and Kashmir are striving over decades for their right to self-determination and the parties to this issue must respect the United Nations resolution on Kashmir,” he added.
He urged the member states to devise a plan of action for women advancement and ensured better child healthcare as he asked for support of the Organization in promoting scientific and technological progress.
Madni regretted the human rights situation in different regions and said, for the purpose, the Organization had formed its own Permanent Independent Human Rights Commission and now it was responsibility of all member states to play their effective role for making this endeavour a success.
He also underlined to work more vibrantly for the security of humanity especially in the Muslim world by promoting unity of thought and thwarting conspiracies against the Ummah.
“We cannot remain oblivious to changes happening around us and we need a common approach to cope with the situations emerging in our regions,” he added.
“We are responsible nations and it is our duty to promote constructive dialogue for peaceful resolution of issues under the charter of the OIC,” Madni said.
Earlier, the Chair, the representative from Egypt also dilated on the issues in the Arab region and beyond and called upon OIC to play a broader role for steering Ummah out of the turmoil and devise a strategy to bring peace to the region.
“There is a realization that these conflicts will ruin the countries as the institutions have been destroyed in Iraq, Libya and Syria and other countries. This rests greater responsibility with the Organization to take concrete steps,” he said.
Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan also mentioned to rising incidents of extremism and terrorism in the Muslim countries and said, it was unfortunate that the Muslim nations were the worst victims of terrorism and even then they were held responsible.
He said the world nation must realize that these were not the Muslims who sponsored terrorism as our religion preached brotherhood, tolerance and peace.
“The western nations should know well that from where extremist organizations are funded,” he added.
“You people in the West talk everywhere about attacks in Belgium and France but you forget blasts in Istanbul, Ankara and Lahore where many people died than those in your countries,” he said.
He urged the OIC member countries to devise their own strategy for countering terrorism than to seek help from others.
Talking about Islamophobia and criticism of Muslims, he said, Muslim world needs just representation in international affairs and demanded a permanent seat in the UN Security Council.
“We the Muslim states have a vast majority but we do not have even single permanent seat in the Security Council. What else is called injustice.”
He also called for measures to better health and education facilities in Muslim countries, women empowerment and promote scientific and industrial cooperation among the member states.
The two-day summit will culminate Friday with the adoption of a joint communique for setting the future course of action for the OIC member countries.
