OIC Journal - Issue 31

September - December 2015

Issue No. 31

Labor Ministers:

Creating Work Opportunities to Reduce Unemployment

Syrian crisis

remains OIC’s focal point

Growth in

ISLAMOPHOBIA with Influx of Refugees into Europe

About OIC The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is the second largest inter-governmental organization after the United Nations with a membership of 57 states spread over four continents. The Organization is the collective voice of the Muslim world. It endeavors to safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony among various peoples of the world.

Originally named The Organization of the Islamic Conference, it was established pursuant a decision adopted by the historical summit which took place in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco, on 12th Rajab 1389 AH/ 25 September 1969 AD, following the criminal arson of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem.

In 1970 the first ever meeting of Islamic Conference of Foreign Minister (ICFM) was held in Jeddah which decided to establish a permanent secretariat in Jeddah headed by the organization’s secretary general. Mr. Iyad Ameen Madani is the 10th Secretary General who assumed the office in January 2014.

The first OIC Charter was adopted by the 3rd ICFM Session held in 1972. The Charter was amended to keep pace with the developments that have unraveled recently across the world. The 11th Islamic Summit held in Dakar in March 2008 endorsed the new Charter, which has become the pillar of the OIC future Islamic action in line with the requirements of the 21st century. The new Charter provides for the dissemination and safeguard of Islamic teachings and values based on moderation and tolerance, as well as the need to strive for the projection and defense of the true image of Islam. The new Charter also called for encouraging inter-civilizational and interfaith dialogue. Over the last 40 years, the OIC membership has grown from its founding members of 30 to 57 states. In 2011 in Astana, Khazakhstan, the 38th Council of Foreign Ministers endorsed changing the emblem and name to Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

The Organization has the singular honor of galvanizing the Ummah into a unified voice and representing Muslims by espousing all causes close to the hearts of over 1.5 billion Muslims in the world. The Organization has consultative and cooperative relations with the UN and other inter-governmental organizations to protect the vital interests of the Muslims and to work for the settlement of conflicts and disputes involving Member States. In safeguarding the true values of Islam and Muslims, the organization has taken various steps to remove misperceptions and have strongly advocated elimination of discrimination against Muslims in all forms and manifestations. It has also engaged in fighting Islamophobia by setting up a dedicated observatory to track and monitor the phenomenon and its disturbing manifestations .

The Member States of the OIC face many challenges in the 21st century. To address these challenges, the 3rd Extraordinary Session of the Islamic Summit held in Makkah in December 2005, laid down a blue print called the Ten-Year Program of Action (TYPOA) which envisages joint action by the Member States, promotion of tolerance and moderation, modernization, extensive reforms in all spheres of activities including science and technology, education, and development of trade.

It also emphasizes good governance and the promotion of human rights in the Muslim world, especially with regard to the children’s and women’s rights as well as family values enshrined in Islamic Shariah [law].

One of the outstanding achievements since the adoption of the Ten-Year Programme of Action (TYPOA) has been the recent reinvigoration and restructuring of the various OIC bodies. Among the OIC›s key bodies the Islamic Summit, the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM), the General Secretariat, in addition to the Al-Quds Committee chaired by the king of the Kingdom of Morocco, as Al-Quds remains the paramount issue on the OIC’s agenda, and three permanent committees, one of which is concerned with science and technology (COMSTECH) that is chaired by the President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the second committee is concerned with economy and trade (COMCEC) which is chaired by the President of the Republic of Turkey, while the third one is concerned with information and culture (COMIAC) which is chaired by the President of Senegal.

The OIC has subsidiary organs, notably Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for the Islamic Countries (SESRIC), the Research Center for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA), the International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA) and the Islamic Center for the development of Trade (ICDT). Other specialized organs operating under the OIC include the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO). There are also affiliated organs such as the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) and the Islamic World Academy of Sciences (IAS). The OIC subsidiary, affiliated and specialized organs play a vital role in boosting cooperation in various fields among the OIC Member States.

For more details, visit the OIC website at www.oic-oci.org OIC - OCI

OUR MESSAGE Cultural Mediation in the Muslim World…

The Role and the Prospects

Iyad Ameen Madani OIC Secretary General

Fanaticism and extremism lead to the rejection of the ‘Other’ and nurtures a social culture suffocated by taboos, which can often encourage violent responses.

Islam is a religion of tolerance and moderation. It inculcates a belief system that appeals to both the spiritual and material aspects of human life. The Islamic faith calls upon the believer to embrace the righteous path as prescribed by the Creator and exercise discreet and rational judgment while navigating through life’s triumphs and tribulations.

The values of moderation and tolerance also form key components of the OIC’s efforts to develop a moderate approach that opposes any form or act of extremism. It is clear that extremist ideologies of whatever type, are a danger on societies. Fanaticism and extremism lead to the rejection of the ‘Other’ and nurtures a social culture suffocated by taboos, which can often encourage violent responses.

The concepts of cultural diversity and peaceful co-existence are facing real challenges from oppressive and aggressive forces. A tangible instance of how these destabilizing forces play out is the relentless and ruthless occupation of Palestine by Israel, posing a grievous threat to Islamic cultural landmarks and institutions in Al-Quds Al-Sharif.

Discrimination, when it turns into a well-entrenched practice, is a no less daunting challenge. Today, the Muslim world is confronted with formidable forces that seem determined to distort, demonize, and denigrate Islam and its cultural values. This trend has taken on phenomenal dimensions, almost a paranoia, that has been dubbed ‘Islamophobia’.

As anti-Islam sentiments have grown rampant, the migrant crisis in Europe erupted to expose the malicious ways religious discrimination can be used to exclude refugees seeking safe haven from war and persecution. Some western politicians have been busy proclaiming that Islam is alien to European culture, history, and tradition. They have even sounded the alarm that Christianity could become a minority religion in Europe were the current migration wave to continue.

If we move eastwards to Myanmar, we see the rise of anti-Islamic sentiments directed against the Rohingya Muslims. During the November 2015 general elections the Rohingya were illegally disenfranchised. For the first time in Myanmar’s history the Rohingya Muslims have been denied voting rights because they are simply not recognized as citizens or part of the social and ethnic fabric of the country. Worse, they are forced to flee and suffer from blatant discrimination and oppression.

Disturbingly, existing challenges facing the Muslim world emanate not just from ‘without’; they lie also ‘within’ the Muslim world. Such is the case with the vandalizing and demolition of Islamic cultural sites in Syria, Iraq, Libya, and Mali at the hands of violent extremists. These criminal acts seek to shatter not only humanity’s historical memory, but they also target the harmony among humanity’s different cultures. It is the responsibility of the international community to ensure that such universal heritage is properly protected and preserved.

Misinterpretation is another aspect of a benighted trend engulfing certain fringe Muslim groups who willfully misinterpret the noble values, principles and teachings of Islam in a bid to promote sectarian strife within the Ummah [Muslim community].

We believe that genuine Islamic teachings provide solutions to these challenges and threats.

To put our Muslim house in order, we need to work out sustainable strategies to eradicate stagnation, degeneration and regression. We could perhaps start by nourishing youth-centric cultural development. In this sense, it is important to keep in mind that no such development would be possible without implementing educational policies that would focus on cultural expression, be it musical or any other artistic form. Organizing an ‘OIC Day of Culture’ would provide a positive platform to boost this idea. Cultural encounters within the OIC family could be celebrated; diverse workshops and cultural events in our Member States could be set up, using arts and culture as tools of mutual understanding and knowledge, as well as mechanisms for rapprochement between cultures and peoples. In parallel, we need to launch programs slated to nurture peaceful coexistence between Muslims, both as individuals and communities, and non-Muslims in Europe and the US as a way to build inter-communal trust and mitigate Islamophobic sentiments. Organizing an ‘OIC Festival of Cultural Expression’ would be another important aspect of this cultural strategy. Such an event could be organized on the sidelines of the Islamic Conference of Ministers of Culture. Member States would have the chance to showcase indigenous arts, music, poetry, and other auditory or visual artifacts.

Faced as we are with mounting hatred, racism, extremism, bigotry, and terrorism, cultural mediation is today more important than ever. By fostering the role of culture-driven mediation, we would help propagate the values of dialogue and peaceful coexistence within and among societies. Were our Islamic Ummah to espouse and practice moderation as firmly prescribed by Islam, it would be far more capable to act as a true cultural mediator around the world because there could be no mediation without moderation.

OIC Journal Issued by The Organization of Islamic Cooperation Chief Editor & General Supervisor Maha Mostafa Akeel Editors Ismaeel Nakhuda Layout & Design Mohammed Abdelqader Qalaba Advisory Board Ali Abolhassani Shahreza Jakhongir Khasanov Translation Amgad Hassan Yahya El-Khatib Mohamed Esseth Address: Madinah Road, P.O. Box 178, Jeddah-21411, Saudi Arabia Tel: 012 6515222 Fax: 012 6512288 Telx.: 601366 Islami SJ. Website: www.oic-oci.org For comments, enquiries

E-mail: journal@oic-oci.org OIC Permanent Observer to the UN New York Office 320 East - 51st Street New York 10022 New York, USA www.oicun.org oic@un.int OIC Permanent Observer to the UN Geneva Office ICC-20, Route Pre-Bois - Case Postal 1818 CH 1215, Geneve, Suisse www.oic-un.org oic@oic-un.org The views expressed by the writers/authors of the articles published in the OIC Journal do not necessarily represent the views of the OIC, but are the personal views of the authors themselves. However, the OIC reserves the right/discretion to amend, revise, edit, delete or scrutinize any part or portion of the text as and wherever deemed necessary.

OIC Related Links Subsidiary Organs The International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA) www.fiqhacademy.org The Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Center for Islamic Countries (SESRIC) www.sesrtcic.org The Research Center for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA) www.ircica.org The Islamic Center for the Development of Trade (ICDT) www.icdt-oic.org The Islamic University of Technology (UIT) www.iutoic-dhaka.edu

Specialized Institutions and Organs The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) www.isdb.org International Islamic News Agency (IINA) www.islamicnews.org.sa The Islamic States Broadcasting Organization (ISBO) www.isboo.org The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in Rabat (ISESCO)www.isesco.org.ma Islamic World Academy of Sciences (IAS) www.ias-worldwide.org

Affiliated Institutions Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) www.icci-oic.org Organization of Islamic Capitals and Cities (OICC) www.oicc.org Organization of the Islamic Shipowners Association (OISA) www.oisaonline.com World Federation of Arab Islamic International Schools (WFAIS) www.wfais.org Islamic Conference Youth Forum for Dialogue and Cooperation (ICYF-DC) www.icyf.com Islamic World Academy of Sciences (IAS) www.ias-worldwide.org

OIC Calendar: January – April 2016 12 - 13 January: The 4th Annual Meeting of the OIC Broadcasting Regulatory Authorities Forum – OIC Headquarters, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 25 - 26 January: The Ministerial Meeting of the OIC-GPH-MNLF Tripartite Review Process – OIC Headquarters, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 28-29 January 2016: OIC Workshop for Reviewing the OIC Plan of Action for the Advancement of Women (OPAAW) and its Implementation Mechanisms – IRCICA, Istanbul, Turkey 22-23 February: Afghan Ulama Conference for Polio Eradication – Kabul, Afghanistan 29 February: 4th Meeting of Lead Country Coordinators for Thematic Areas of the Strategic Health Program of Action (SHPA) – Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 2-3 March: 11th Meeting of Steering Committee on Health – Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 6-7 March: Extraordinary Session of the Islamic Summit Conference on the Cause of Palestine and Al-Quds Al-Shareef – Jakarta, Indonesia 16-17 March: Building a Better Response Integrated Learning Workshop – OIC Headquarters, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 16 March: The 3rd meeting of the Islamic Advisory Group on Polio Eradication – OIC Headquarters, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 10-15 April: 13th Islamic Summit – Istanbul, Turkey 14 April: Special Session of 1st Ladies on Tackling Cancer – Istanbul, Turkey 26-28 April: 7th OIC Ministerial Conference on Food Security and Agricultural Development – Astana, Kazakhstan

CONTENTS Palestine File 8:

OIC Condemns Israeli Murder of Palestinians

Special Report: 11: The Annual Coordination Meeting in New York

World Affairs:

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Syrian crisis remains OIC’s focal point

19

Messaging Center to Counter Extremist Propaganda and Center for Cyber Security

48

OIC Health Ministers Align Strategic Health Program of Action with UN SDG

55

Creating Work Opportunities to Reduce Unemployment

57

Encouraging Tourism to Al-Quds will Protect Al-Aqsa

21: OIC Supports Reforms in Iraq 22: Resurgence of Violence in Central African Republic 27: Libyan Sides Reach Tentative Agreement for Political Solution

Human Rights: 36: IPHRC proposes creation of Masters Programs on human rights education

Islamophobia: 38: Growth in Islamophobia with Influx of Refugees into Europe

Culture: 43: The Ninth Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers Held in Muscat

Economy: 53: Need for Collaboration among Stakeholders to Popularize Islamic Finance 54: 8th Forum for Businesswomen in Islamic Countries 57: COMCEC: OIC General Secretariat Committed to Coordinating and Supporting Activities of its Institutions

Tourism: 59: Tangier: The City of Art and Beauty, Where the Past and the Present Coincide

Opinion Articles 10. Arson of Al-Aqsa Mosque ‌ Continuous Violations 35. How the OIC Plans to Win the War of Ideas against Daesh 64. Refugees...Islamophobia...and Terrorism

IN FOCUS

A Syrian girl in the August Scharrttner Halle in Hanau, Germany, 24 September 2015 (epa) A local resident carries a Syrian refugee girl after her arrival in an overloaded rubber dinghy to the Greek island of Lesvos, 9 October 2015 (epa)

Syrian Crisis Remains OIC’s Focal Point Jeddah, Saudi Arabia The OIC General Secretariat hosted an “Emergency Open-Ended Meeting of the Executive Committee at the level of Permanent Representatives” on the escalating Syrian refugee crisis on 13th September 2015 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The Executive Committee comprises the Islamic Summit and the Council of Foreign Ministers Troikas which include Egypt, Senegal and Turkey, and Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan, in addition to the OIC Secretary General.

At the end of the meeting, a final statement was issued in which participants reiterated that the root causes of the humanitarian crises facing the Syrian people are the war crimes committed by the Syrian regime.

The statement also voiced concern over the continuing political instability and chaos in the country and the resulting humanitarian disaster which is causing a mass exodus of Syrians seeking refuge in other countries.

In this context, the meeting called on the international community, particularly the United Nations Security Council, to urgently

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pursue a political solution to the conflict. It also urged all parties in Syria to rededicate themselves to this goal as a way of mitigating the humanitarian catastrophe.

The meeting expressed its deep concern at the insufficient international response to protect civilians, and the grievous human rights violations, mass killings, bombings and atrocities committed by the Assad regime, Daesh and other violent extremist groups.

The meeting called for the adoption of a new political paradigm in the region to address the challenges posed by the conflict, which constitute a serious threat to the peace and security of regional states. It also emphasized the need for the OIC to continue to serve as a platform for this approach.

The meeting further stressed the common responsibility of all nations, particularly OIC Member States, to open their doors to Syrian refugees as a mark of Islamic compassion and solidarity. In this connection, the meeting commended the generosity of Syria’s neighboring countries—such as Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Egypt—for

OIC Journal September - December 2015

hosting refugees in spite of their limited resources and capacity. The meeting also noted that the numbers of Syrians hosted

by OIC Member States have exceeded 7 million.

The meeting also noted that in spite of over half of OIC Member States being signatories to the 1951 UN Convention on Refugees, many of them are hosting millions of refugees. The Meeting also called on non-signatory OIC countries to join the Convention and called on Member States to consider adopting an OIC framework on refugees to address issues pertaining to refugees as well as cooperation between Member States on refugees to contribute to the alleviation of the refugee crisis in the Muslim World.

The meeting called on the international community and the Syrian regime to assume their full responsibility to protect the lives and livelihoods of all civilians, stem the continuing mass exodus of innocent citizens and end the tragic bloodshed. In this context, the meeting called on the UN Se-

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IN FOCUS curity Council to urgently act by considering the creation of a multi-dimensional UN peacekeeping operation in Syria as a prelude to restoring security and stability in the country.

The meeting further appealed to all Member States, the international community, international organizations and international humanitarian actors to enhance their contributions to Syria’s neighboring countries based on an equitable burden-sharing principle.

The meeting also commended Kuwait for hosting the first, second and third international humanitarian pledging conferences for Syria. It recognized that humanitarian needs in Syria are still tremendous and much more should be done, especially in terms of cross-border humanitarian assistance.

The meeting further appealed to Member States to channel some of their humanitarian aid through the OIC to strengthen joint Islamic action, and requested them to provide the OIC General Secretariat with details of the humanitarian assistance they have provided to the Syrian refugees as well as Palestinian refugees in Syria and their future plans for assistance.

The meeting recommended convening, as a matter of urgency, a ministerial meeting to discuss and adopt a plan of action or a strategy on refugee issues in OIC Member States. It also decided to remain seized with the issue and requested the Secretary General of the OIC to develop a report on the matter to be circulated to Member States.

The Secretary General of the OIC Iyad Ameen Madani delivered a speech at the beginning of the meeting in which he said, “It is not a secret to anyone that Syrian refugees whose number the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates to be in the millions have fled Syria to neighboring countries. They are unable to return home. They have reached the European Union countries in their tens of thousands. In this way the Syrian refugee crisis is the worse refugee crisis since World War II.” He added that the suffering of the Syrian people will not end unless there is a political settlement, and that it has become clear that the humanitarian suffering endured for years by the people of Syria reflects the failure of the international community in resolving the political problem, which is prolonging the human suffering that the world is today witnessing.

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The Secretary-General added that there is a severe urgency for regional countries to develop and embrace a renewed common approach that takes into account unity of belief and the similarity of natural resources, and takes into consideration that Islam came as a mercy for the worlds and its message is for all of mankind.

“I take this opportunity to express the General Secretariat’s deep thanks to those countries neighboring Syria for showing generosity and kindness to millions of Syrians, and their efforts to alleviate the suffering of refugees. These efforts have been led

by Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and other OIC Member States,” he said.

“The statistics of some Member States indicate that they have collectively received over 7 million Syrians since the outbreak of events in Syria. As a result, I hope that all Member States which host refugees issue statements detailing those numbers for the benefit of the international public and clarify the OIC’s efforts in respect to Syrian refugees,” he added.

Madani also stressed that the current situation once again highlights the need to consider the establishment of the OIC Humanitarian Emergency Fund to address humanitarian crises occurring in OIC Member States.

“We hope that your meeting ends with recommendations approving the establishment of this fund without requiring Member States to contribute to it, according to the regulations and accounting principles considered by financial experts so that we can … cope with humanitarian crises and disasters, and contribute in remedying problems and embody the conscience of the Muslim Ummah to stand with those in

need as taught to us by our religion,” he said.

Madani said that it should be noted in this regard that more than half of OIC Member States had not signed the United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees of 1951 and that in spite of this many of them have taken refugees.

“It may be that there is a need to formulate an official OIC document on refugees to frame the responsibility of Member States in addressing the refugee crisis, including within regional surrounding countries,” he said.

On his part, Kuwait’s Permanent Representative to the OIC, Saleh Al-Saqabi, whose country presently holds the presidency of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, said that the international community has been, over the past five years, incapable of solving the Syrian crisis, adding that about 12 million Syrians citizens have been displaced at home and abroad.

Al-Saqabi added that his country has hosted three donor conferences to provide aid to Syria in the belief that the Syrian people are urgently in need of humanitarian assistance. He also called for speedy and necessary steps to resolve the crisis.

Meanwhile, Egypt’s Permanent Representative to the OIC, Hatem El-Sayed Abdel Qader, whose country headed the last Islamic Summit Conference, said that his country, in accordance with UN resolutions, has hosted 300,000 thousand Syrians, 140,000 of which are registered with the UNHCR. He also called for a political solution to the Syrian crisis and the realization of a pure Syrian state with a democratic multi-party government.

Members of Turkish Coastal Guard ship UMUT stops Syrian migrants on a boat attempting to reach Greek Island Chios, 9 December 2015 (epa)

OIC Journal September - December 2015

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PALESTINE FILE The Agency Anticipates the Pledges of 22 States OIC Highly Commends Saudi Arabia’s Support for UNRWA The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has highly commended the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its announcement of a 35 million US dollar contribution for the benefit of the United Nations’ Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in reaction to the latter’s critical budgetary crisis that has reached 101 million dollars, which threatens to necessitate postponing the start of the new school year and causing a decline in the basic and humanitarian services extended by the Agency to over five million Palestinian refugees.

The OIC Secretary General laid stress on the need for the international community’s commitment to support UNRWA, to shoulder its responsibility towards the issue of the Palestinian refugees and help find a just solution for it in accordance with the resolutions of international legitimacy.

It may be noted that the OIC Secretary General had addressed, earlier this month, a message to the OIC Member States’ foreign ministers, urging them to support UNRWA’s budget such as to bolster its capacity in alleviating the ordeal of the Palestinian refugees and providing for their basic needs.

In his message, the Secretary General also noted that supporting UNRWA’s budget represents a moral and humanitarian duty towards the Palestinian refugees, and a fundamental commitment towards supporting their imprescriptible rights and the preservation of their cause as a vital and effective one within the UN responsibility.

Meanwhile, 22 of the UN member states are planning to pledge donating $100 million to support UNRWA’s next year budget, while other countries announced that their donations are upcoming, or awaiting their

national parliament approval.

The donors made their pledges during the Ad Hoc Committee established by the UN General Assembly as the main platform to announce the donors support for the 65-year-old agency provides education, healthcare, relief, and social services for about 5 million Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, the West Bank, and Gaza.

It is worth mentioning that the $100 million will partly cover the Agency’s main needs in the fields of education, healthcare, and relief. Under the condition of undertaking the expected pledges and donations, and with the strict internal control measures, the Agency expects to face a deficit of $81 million, which is less than that of previous years.

OIC Welcomes Including its Member States in the International Quartet Meeting in New York The Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Mr. Iyad Ameen Madani, welcomed the invitations addressed to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Arab Republic of Egypt to attend the meeting of the International Quartet due to be held on the margin of the UN General Assembly’s annual meeting in New York. He viewed that step as important and in line with the OIC stands which call for the invigoration of the Quartet’s role and the reshaping of its structure and work processes in such a way as to bolster efforts in favor of achieving peace based on the Two-State

solution.

The Secretary General expressed the hope that this would constitute a fresh opportunity to enhance the positive and active involvement of the international community players and to step up efforts aimed at achieving peace, security and stability in the region, through handling the peace alternative from a more realistic and more diligent perspective. Mr. Madani laid stress on the urgent need for a clear plan and vision on the part of the international Quartet for a just and comprehensive solution to the Israeli-Palestinian crisis. He called on all parties to be more diligent in their endeavors to

put an end to the continued Israeli aggressions in Al-Quds, the West Bank and Gaza and to stop the expansion of settlements in the Palestinian territories and the illegal practices in the Al-Aqsa Mosque and its surroundings as well as the settler onslaughts against the defenseless citizens.

In this respect, he invoked the need for the Quartet to act and set a time-limit for a conclusive end to the Israeli occupation to be reached based on the resolutions of international legitimacy including the UN General Assembly’s resolution of November 29, 2012 recognizing Palestine as a nonMember State.

OIC Secretary General Sends Letters to Heads of International Organizations to Over Israeli Aggression The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Iyad Ameen Madani, dispatched several letters in September 16 to the heads of the prominent international organizations, urging them to confront the Israeli violations and escalation in the Blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Palestinian Territories in general.

Madani addressed his letters to the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Prince Zeid bin Raad, and the

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Director General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova.

The OIC Secretary General briefed the heads of international organizations on the latest developments in Al-Quds, including the Israeli violations, the most aggressive

OIC Journal September - December 2015

in decades, which are now threatening to divide Al-Aqsa Mosque temporally and spatially according to a scheme Israel has been implementing for years.

The OIC Secretary General reiterated his strong condemnation of the Israeli attacks on the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque. He also condemned the complicity of members of the Israeli government in the recent attacks, some of whom lead groups of settlers into Al-Aqsa courtyards, under direct protection of the Israeli occupation forces, in blatant defiance of the feelings of Muslims. He asserted, the Israeli government has been persistently committing these heinous acts while the whole world is watching.

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PALESTINE FILE Israel Undermines

Pharmaceutical Industry in the Gaza Strip Gaza, Palestine (DPA): The Gaza Strip faces an acute shortage of medicines periodically amid accusations of Israel of undermining the development of the pharmaceutical industry in the Gaza Strip besieged since mid-2007.

Local officials in Gaza complain against the Israeli ban on Palestinian pharmaceutical companies to bring in chemicals under the pretext of being dangerous. This prevents production of medicines to cover domestic consumption.

The Gaza Strip has two factories for the production of medicine.

They produce about 90 types of medicines only out of more than three thousand medicines required by the coastal densely populated strip of about 1,750,000 people. Domestic demand for drugs falls into four groups, namely private sector, government sector, UNRWA, as well as charitable institutions and NGOs. The director of the Middle East Pharmaceutical Factory in Gaza, Marwan Al-Astal, indicated that his factory is no longer able to work at full capacity because of the repeated Israeli ban on bringing in chemicals that go into pharmaceuticals and medical products industry.

Al-Astal told the German Press Agency (DPA) that the factory founded in 1999 suffers deeply because of the crisis in the pharmaceutical industry and the supply of medical supplies in the Strip due to the Israeli practices.

Al-Astal pointed out that the Israeli authorities consistently prevented the entry of pharmaceutical raw materials under security pretexts, forcing those working in the sector to reduce labor, working days and production to quarter.

He pointed to the targeting of the factory during the recent Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip in the summer of 2014 and this resulted in the destruction of the central control room, damaging the raw materials, and stoppage of operation for more than four months.

He estimated the volume of annual financial losses of about USD 1.5 million because of not operating at full capacity, in addition to the losses that resulted from the Israeli targeting of the factory, pointing out that the total cost of the plant amounted to USD 4 million.

The cost of essential medicines that Gaza requires a month amounts to USD 2.5 million, while permanent needs include 460 types, which the medical institutions in the Strip cannot obtain.

Khalil Abu Laila, Head of Pharmacists Syndicate in Gaza, said that the Ministry of Health in Gaza is suffering a shortage of many important and essential types of drugs in its stores threatening the lives of patients because of the lack of these medicines in the hospitals.

Abu Laila stated that there is a big difference between the needs of the Ministry of Health and the needs of the private sector, but

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both sides suffer from recurrent deficit in many types of medicine.

The Palestinian pharmaceutical industry is a recent and emerging industry. Although some of its components were established thirty years ago, it has taken key steps in production in the early eighties, but it remains nascent compared with global and regional companies in terms of size and technological and scientific level.

Those in charge of the Palestinian pharmaceutical industry always complained of the inability of inspectors of health ministries in other countries to visit their factories though this is a necessary step to register their drugs in these markets.

They also complain about the great difficulties in obtaining the necessary permits from Israel to import medicines, raw materials along with delays in giving permits. Israeli authorities also prevent the supply of chemicals used in the pharmaceutical industry for flimsy security reasons.

According to official Palestinian statistics, Palestinian pharmaceutical industry covers about 50 percent of the local drug market, estimated at USD 130 million while the remaining is covered by medicines imported from international markets by 35 percent and Israel by 15 percent.

About 91 percent of the Palestinian pharmaceutical products are marketed in the West Bank and Gaza Strip markets, while a small percentage (9 percent of sales) is exported. The Palestinian drugs are prohibited to enter the Israeli market.

According to the same statistics, the volume of employment in the Palestinian pharmaceutical sector exceeds 1300 direct jobs in addition to thousands of indirect jobs.

However, the greatest weight for the manufacture of the Palestinian drugs remains confined to the West Bank with four major factories there while the restrictions imposed by Israel on the pharmaceutical industry in the Gaza Strip remain an obstacle to achieving a similar development.

Munir Al-Boursh, Head of Pharmacists Department, Ministry of Health in Gaza, asserted that Israel is placing obstacles in front of the pharmaceutical industry in the Strip, which explains the reluctance of investors in the field of medical industries to enter the Gaza market.

Al-Boursh indicated that the Israeli authorities imposed a ban on the entry of chemical raw materials, which are one of the most important materials used to manufacture medicines, to the Gaza Strip, claiming fear that the “Palestinian resistance� would use then in military industries.

Al-Boursh estimated that the value of medical losses suffered by pharmaceutical companies and factories in the Gaza Strip exceed USD 5 million a year because of Israeli ban on the entry of raw materials for the pharmaceutical industry, as well as preventing access to certain medications by the patients.

OIC Journal September - December 2015

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PALESTINE FILE

)epa(

OIC Condemns Israeli Murder of Palestinians Following a string of Israeli violations, including Israeli occupation forces attacking, executing and murdering Palestinians across Occupied Palestine, OIC Secretary General Iyad Ameen Madani expressed strong condemnation at the increased numbers of Israeli attacks, especially in occupied Al-Quds (Jerusalem).

Madani also expressed indignation at the growing terrorism perpetrated by extremist Israeli settlers against Palestinians, particularly women and children, since the beginning of October, adding that these crimes violate the Fourth Geneva Convention and international humanitarian law.

He also said that the Israeli Knesset permitting occupation soldiers firing on Palestinians in occupied Al-Quds is tantamount to official support for criminal actions. The Israeli soldiers stand near a Palestinian who was shot

by Israeli soldiers after allegedly attacking a guard near the Ibrahimi Mosque, in Hebron, West Bank, 29 October 2015 (epa)

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OIC Secretary General said that this demonstrates that the Israeli Knesset has given the green light to kill and repress Palestinians without any consideration for human rights or international law.

He further held the Israeli occupation responsible for aggravating tensions because of its racist Apartheid policies and unlawful killings which are fueling further extremism, violence and racism.

Madani said the OIC is implementing decisions reached at an Extraordinary Meeting of foreign ministers of OIC Member States to discuss the Israeli attacks and violence in occupied Al-Quds. The meeting was held in New York at the beginning of October. Decisions include steps to convene emergency UN Security Council meetings to stop the situation from deteriorating further. He also called on the international community to protect Palestinians and said that OIC Member States have already participated in three emergency meetings on the issue at the UN Security Council.

The OIC group also held in Geneva on 28th October a meeting with the International Human Rights Council in which violations committed by Israeli occupation forces and extremist settlers were discussed, particularly the dangers facing Al-Quds and the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

Until 5th November, some 78 Palestinians had been martyred in the Al-Quds Intifada—all had been shot by Israeli forces.

According to the Al-Quds Centre for IsraeliPalestinian Studies, there is a growing increase in Israeli crimes in the present Intifada in addition to an increase in Palestinian resistance.

OIC Journal September - December 2015

According to the Al-Quds Center for Statistical Analysis, 10 Israelis have so far been killed and 223 others injured. There have also been 1,100 stone-throwing incidents, 39 shootings, 51 stabbings, at least 36 attacks using cars, and 460 bombings including the use of petrol bombs. The total number of people injured so far has reached 6,395 with the majority in Ramallah, Abu Dis, Qalqilya, Bethlehem, Tulkarem and Hebron. The Center also said that 699 injuries were caused by live ammunition, 1,900 by rubber bullets, 3,380 by tear gas, and 90 due to actual physical assaults and being ran over with cars.

The Center said that there were 227 Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians with 135 using cars and 43 physical assaults. Israeli settlers also killed one Palestinian in Hebron and carried out a stabbing in Dimona. The rest of the attacks were on homes and property.

Meanwhile, the State of Palestine submitted to the International Criminal Court a fresh dossier of evidence in an attempt to get the war crimes tribunal to expand its existing probe into Israeli war crimes since 1967.

Emerging from the court, Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki said the new dossier, the third he has submitted this year, contained evidence of “extrajudicial killing, home demolition, collective punishment” including from the past 40 days. Maliki said that the information can only lead to the opening of an investigation at the earliest possible time.

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PALESTINE FILE Israeli Settlements are an Obstacle to the Two-State Solution and Peace

Brussels, Belgium – A two-day conference - entitled “Israeli settlements as an obstacle to peace: possible ways forward” - kicked off on Sept. 7 in Brussels.

The conference, organized jointly by the OIC-UN and League of Arab States, aimed to discuss Israeli settlements, the role of the international community and regional organizations, and EU guidelines on the import and labeling of settlement goods.

Speaking at the opening, OIC Assistant Secretary General, Ambassador Samir Bakr, said Israel was doing everything to bring Palestine down despite the international community’s efforts to find peace. Israeli settlers number 600,000, and settlements fragment Palestinian land and communities thus “Judaizing” Jerusalem.

He added that these activities, including measures transforming the demographics and the exploitation of natural resources in the Occupied Territories, are in violation of international law. He also said that settlers go on undeterred to destroy Palestinian homes and attack churches and mosques.

He further called for an international framework to set a deadline to end the occupation, and said that the Security Council should take measures and that the Palestinian Rights Committee had also a role to play in establishing the State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as capital. He said there is no peace without this.

A statement from UN Secretary-General

Ban Ki-moon said that Israel’s illegal settlements in the Occupied Territories run counter to its stated objective to realize a TwoState solution. He also voiced concern at new levels of settler violence against Palestinians.

Ban Ki-moon was delivered on his behalf

by Rima Khalaf, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia.

Ban said that Israel’s illegal settlements in the Occupied Territories run counter to its stated objective to realize a Two-State solution. He also voiced concern at new levels of settler violence against Palestinians. “The continuing policy of settlement expansion and the climate of impunity relating to settler activity are a root cause of the escalating violence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory,” he said.

Riad Malki, Palestine’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, said the settlement issue is not about real estate or construction of housing units; for each settlement constructed and expanded, Israel destroys Palestinian property and livelihood, something that disrupts Palestinian social fabric and erodes Palestinian hope.

He also said that the EU’s labeling of Israeli settler products was positive, yet overdue.

It was a step in the right direction, but nowhere near enough.

Haifa Abu Ghazaleh, Assistant SecretaryGeneral of the Arab League, also called for an end to the Israeli occupation, that the Security Council must adopt binding resolutions and that the international community and the Quartet should move from mere condemnation of Israeli acts to concrete pressures to end Israeli occupation.

OIC Commends the European Union’s Decision to Label Products from Israeli Settlements The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Iyad Ameen Madani, commended the decision adopted by the European Union to label goods and products made in Israeli settlements that are built on the occupied Palestinian territory. He considered this an important step in line with international resolutions and positions affirming illegality of Israeli settlements.

The Secretary General emphasized the need to build on such measures and strengthen them with political decisions and an effective role by the European Union towards compelling Israel to stop all apartheid settlement activities throughout the occupied Palestinian territories, which constitute a major obstacle to achieving peace based on the two-state solution vision.

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OIC Journal September - December 2015

9

PALESTINE FILE Arson of Al-Aqsa Mosque ‌ Continuous Violations

Advisor / Abdel Fattah Suleiman Abdullah Secretary General of the World Federation of Arab Islamic International Schools in Cairo

I remember that the Supreme Zionist Court of Justice on 29 July 1995 issued a decree allowing the Jews officially to pray in Al-Aqsa Mosque. This decision was unprecedented in that it sought to give Jews the right to share the Noble Sanctuary with Muslims, as happened in the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron

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The forty-sixth anniversary of the arson of Al-Aqsa Mosque (1969- 2015) passed on 21 August 2015; however, heinous events recur. The criminal events and malicious schemes of the Zionist enemy continues. Israel is swallowing Al-Quds, storming Al-Aqsa Mosque, attacking peaceful worshipers, officially permitting Jews to pray at and desecrate Al-Aqsa Mosque, and seeking to prove the right of Jews to share the Noble Sanctuary with Muslims as the case was with the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron.

I remember that the Supreme Zionist Court of Justice on 29 July 1995 issued a decree allowing the Jews officially to pray in Al-Aqsa Mosque. This decision was unprecedented in that it sought to give Jews the right to share the Noble Sanctuary with Muslims, as happened in the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron.

Following this decision, small group of Jewish extremists tried to storm the Noble Sanctuary in August 1995 in an attempt to desecrate it. However, hundreds of Muslims gathered there and stopped them by force. This prompted the Zionist police to close the Noble Sanctuary in front of Jews and Muslims under the pretext of alleviating the tension between them. Thus came this malicious trick to deprive Muslims from entering their Noble Sanctuary.

This previous decision by the Zionist Court was the acme in the schemes and attempts to swallow AlQuds and obliterate its Islamic identity. Zionists are exerting every effort to Judaize Al-Quds through land confiscation, blowing up dozens of homes, planting new Jewish settlements, tearing Palestinian population and social structure and confining it to small spaces between the tumultuous sea of new Jewish entities in the hope of dissolving its identity and providing it with a Jewish hue.

In September 2015, an Arab research center issued a study that indicated that Zionists had confiscated more than a third of the area of Al-Quds for the benefit of Jewish settlers. The report stated that the number of settlers in Al-Quds has increased since its occupation in 1976 from zero to three hundred thousand. The report revealed that the Zionist expansionist Judaization of Al-Quds proceeds according to more than one axis. Israel, the occupying Power, confiscates land and extends roads on one hand while it continues its excavations that started in the 1970s near the Noble Sanctuary.

The report concluded that the Israeli plans are to leave only 4% of the area of Al-Quds to Arabs after the Zionists seize 96% thereof.

The UNESCO objected to the action by the Zionist authorities to secretly dig a tunnel under the AlQuds. It stressed that that would lead to the collapse of the old houses in Al-Quds with Islamic identity and owned by the indigenous Arab population. However, the Zionist Jews continued to drill and did not pay attention to the objection of the UNESCO. These Jewish attacks have been going on for over 46 years old to Judaize and swallow Al-Quds, according to a secret plan being implemented artfully by successive Jewish governments since that of Rabin to date. The plan aims to achieve the Greater Al-Quds project in preparation for the project of Greater Israel. It stipulates that Al-Quds would be the permanent capital of the Zionist entity after the Palestinians in Al-Quds become a minority. I remember that Yitzhak Rabin had confirmed unabashedly he was ready not to sign a peace agreement with the Arabs if this would make Israel give up Al-Quds.

The aggressions continue. On 8 August 2015, the so-called organizations and groups of the alleged temple demanded the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, in a formal memo to close the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque in the face of Muslims during the morning period. On 12 September 2015, the Netanyahu government decided to implement the decision to divide Al-Aqsa Mosque temporally in two phases. The first one focuses on pursuing the Palestinian demographic presence inside Al-Aqsa Mosque by arresting and targeting scholars, preachers and students. The second phase would set mandatory daily schedules to allow Jews to enter Al-Aqsa while preventing Palestinians from entering Al-Aqsa in those hours, just as happened in the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron.

On 17 September 2015, the Israeli government allowed its soldiers and police in Al-Quds to use sniper rifles against the young people who stand up to the incursions of Jewish settlers and the occupation forces of Al-Aqsa Mosque and in different areas of Al-Quds.

Violations will continue until we give up our differences and unite to support the third holiest Muslim site, the first Qiblah and the ascension of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him.

The Islamic countries must organize their ranks, unify their positions, and mobilize their military, economic and political forces. This is at the heart of the role of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to stop the Zionist plans towards the holy city after the claims of the Zionists that they seek peace in the region have become just a chimera.

OIC Journal September - December 2015

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SPECIAL REPORT

Annual Coordination Meeting in New York

Extraordinary Meeting on Al-Quds Affirms Palestinian Sovereignty Over Al-Quds

In response to the invitation from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on 1 October 2015 in New York held an extraordinary meeting of the foreign ministers of its member states under the chairmanship of the First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the State of Kuwait, H.H. Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah. In attendance at the meeting were the Prime Minister of Palestine, Dr. Rami Hamdallah, the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mr. Adel Al-Jubeir, and the OIC Secretary

General, Mr. Iyad Ameen Madani. The meeting was held to discuss Israeli attacks and aggression in the occupied Al-Quds.

The participants considered the grave developments in the city of Al-Quds, particularly the escalated Israeli attack on the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque and its efforts to impose a new fait accompli on the city in order to divide it.

The meeting adopted a resolution that affirmed Palestinian sovereignty over AlQuds, the Islamic ummah’s rejection and condemnation of Israel’s measures and its determination to prevent and frustrate Israeli’s measures as void, condemnable and illegal and as violation of international law international instruments and resolutions.

The meeting called on the Security Council to act swiftly to compel Israel, the occupying power to stop all its violations and to adopt a timetable setting a timeframe and practical steps to end Israeli occupation.

It also called for an international conference to achieve a comprehensive just and lasting peace in the Middle East based on internationally legitimate resolution. The meeting had requested the Islamic Group, in the event that the Security Council fails to assume its responsibility, to hold a special meeting of the United Nations General Assembly in the framework of “United for Peace” in order to compel Israel to stop its violations.

The meeting also affirmed the determination of the OIC to follow through the implementation of several resolutions as part of legal and diplomatic steps to get Israel to stop its violations and aggression.

OIC Secretary General Participates in Raising Palestinian Flag at the United Nations

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (C) during a ceremony to raise the Palestinian flag at the UN headquarters in New York, USA, 30 September 2015

The Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Iyad Ameen Madani, alongside world leaders, participated in a ceremony held at the United Nations on 30 September 2015 on the occasion of raising the Palestinian flag at that international platform.

The Secretary General stated that although the occasion is symbolic, it constitutes an important step on the road to cementing the legal status of the State of Palestine among member states of the international community.

He expressed his profound happiness and congratulations to the Palestinian people and leadership on this achievement. He expressed the hope that very soon, the Palestinian people would be able to raise their flags on the minaret of and walls of the Al-Quds under their independent state. He also extolled the efforts made by the OIC group in New York in mobilizing wide international support that led the United Nations General Assembly on 10 September 2015 to adopt its resolution to raise that Palestinian flag at the United Nations.

Madani and Al-Maliki Discuss Ways to Support the Cause of Palestine and Defend Al-Quds Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Iyad Ameen Madani, met with the Foreign Minister of the State of Palestine, Dr. Riyad Al-Maliki, at the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on 28 September 2015. Both discussed the latest developments relating to the question of Palestine, particularly in light of Israel’s escalated aggression against the blessed AlAqsa Mosque.

The Secretary General presented the steps

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taken by the OIC to support the cause of Palestine through meetings at the United Nations General Assembly, including the second meeting of the OIC Ministerial Contact Group on defending the cause of Palestine and Al-Quds Al-Shareef, held in New York on 26 September 2015. The Ministerial Contact Group resolved to continue its tour of important capitals to convey a clear message on the OIC’s rejection of Israel’s measures and to work with the international community to stop and criminalize them.

For his part the Minister briefed the Secretary General about developments in AlQuds in light of Israeli escalations. He also delivered to the Secretary General the message from H.E. President Mahmoud Abbas to the effect that Palestine relies on the OIC to mobilize for the cause of Palestine. The Minister also assured the Secretary General that the Palestinian reconciliation efforts are progressing rapidly to restore Palestinian harmony that will enable them to counter Israeli escalation.

OIC Journal September - December 2015 11

SPECIAL REPORT

Annual Coordination Meeting in New York

OIC Participates in the UN Summit for the Adoption of the Post-2015 Development Agenda

The OIC Stands ready to Work with the United Nations to Ensure that the Journey on the Road to 2030 is Successful and its Gains Irreversible The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) declared at the UN Summit for the Adoption of the Post-2015 Development Agenda in New York on 27 September 2015 that the OIC stands ready to work with the United Nations to ensure that our journey on the road to 2030 is successful and its gains irreversible.

In his statement, read on his behalf by his advisor Ambassador Abdul Moiz Bokhari, the Secretary General said that the goals and objectives of the organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) are not different from those of the United Nations. “The two organizations are devoted to the cause of international peace, security and development and share diverse challenges in all domains of human endeavor,” he said.

Madani said that OIC vision puts the people first and aims to develop human capital and achieve inclusive growth. The OIC, therefore, fully recognizes the significance of the 2030 Agenda and shares the promise that it holds for all people. It envisions its role as an effective agent for peace and development in the Muslim world and beyond.

The Secretary General stated that the Organisation is currently engaged in elaborating a successor programme to the Ten-year Programme of Action (TYPOA), which concludes in December 2015.

This was the first major attempt to pursue a multi-dimensional agenda addressing challenges faced by its Member States in the intellectual, cultural, political, information, economic and devel-

opmental fields. The Programme of Action for the next decade (2016-2025) titled, ‘the OIC-2025’ is anchored in the provisions of the OIC Charter and the directions emanating from the OIC fora provide the conceptual framework to its development paradigm.

It focuses on 17 priority areas which include: Peace and Security, Palestine and Al-Quds, Poverty Alleviation, Trade, Investment and Finance, Employment, Infrastructure and Industrialization, Science, Technology and Innovation, Climate Change and Sustainability, Moderation, Culture and Inter-faith Harmony, Advancement and Empowerment of Women, Human Rights, Good Governance and Accountability, ICT, Digital Infrastructure and alike.

Madani said that the OIC-2025 is in general harmony with the broad UN approaches and strategies. However, the issues that are of particular interest to the OIC Member States form the core of the OIC-2025. It is a comprehensive agenda for cooperation and partnership, which recognizes the centrality of the Joint Islamic Action, political ownership by the national governments and active partnership with all stakeholders.

The OIC-2025 and the 2030 Agenda reflect a great degree of complementarity in the goals and actions set forth by the two organizations. With an impressive record of active partnership between the two organizations, the OIC is in a unique position to play an important role in promoting global partnership and intensive global engagement, bringing together all stakeholders for the success of our collective journey, said the Secretary General.

OIC-LAS-GCC Coordination Meeting on Developments in the Region Mr. Iyad Ameen Madani, Secretary General of the Organization Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Dr. Nabil Elaraby Secretary General of the League of Arab States (LAS) and Dr. Abdul Latif Al-Zayani the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) held a consultative meeting on the sidelines of the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. The meeting was held at the headquarters of the OIC Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations in New York, on Sunday, 27 September 2015. This is the third consultative meeting of the Secretaries General of the three organizations with the participation of members of the Senior Officials Committee concerned with the preparation of the consultative sessions and a number of other officials.

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OIC Journal September - December 2015

The meeting dealt with several issues, especially the latest developments in Palestine, coordination of positions and joint action on the Israeli escalation and supporting the Palestinian Cause. The meeting also discussed some regional and international issues, especially the situation in Syria, Yemen and Libya.

The meeting stressed the importance of the continuation of this mechanism to maintain coordination and promote cooperation in all areas. The three Secretaries General agreed to hold their fourth consultative meeting on the sidelines of the 27th Session of the LAS Council at the Summit Level scheduled in March 2016 in Morocco, preceded by a preparatory senior officials meeting.

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SPECIAL REPORT

Annual Coordination Meeting in New York

OIC and EU Sign MOU The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Iyad Ameen Madani held a bilateral meeting with Ms. Federica Mogherini, the European Union High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy on 27 September 2015, in New York on the sidelines of the UNGA. The two sides discussed issues of mutual concern, at the top of which are developments in Palestine, Syria and the Rohingya in Myanmar.

During the meeting the two sides discussed bilateral cooperation and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) - Mr. Madani for the General Secretariat of the OIC and Ms. Mogherini for the European External Action Service (EEAS) - to support and strengthen their relations and enhance their dialogue in order to achieve common goals and objectives in areas of mutual understanding. Through regular consultations and meetings, the two sides will endeavor to enhance their dialogue and cooperation with a view to increasing their mutual understanding on political and security matters, working jointly in various fields, and identifying the challenges, shared goals and potential actions in areas of common interest.

OIC Contact Group on Sierra Leone Called on Stakeholders to

Continue Assisting Sierra Leone in Confronting Ebola

The OIC Contact Group on Sierra Leone met at the Ministerial level on the sidelines of the Annual Coordination Meeting of the OIC Foreign Ministers in New York, on 28 September 2015, and reviewed the latest situation in the country. The meeting noted with satisfaction that Sierra Leone has managed with the assistance of the international community, OIC Member States and the relevant institutions to overcome the deadly Ebola Virus Disease, which claimed many casualties in the country.

In order to keep this positive trend going and given the sensitivity of Ebola, the meeting urged Sierra Leonean authorities to maintain vigilance and avoid any relapse which could annihilate all efforts and initiatives put up globally to control and eradicate the Ebola disease. The meeting subsequently called on all stakeholders whether national, regional and international to join hands and assist Sierra Leone develop and further upgrade its medical facilities, water sewage systems and sanitation so as to be more prepared to control and manage the outbreak of any viral deadly disease which could spread to the whole West African Region.

The meeting also invited OIC Member States to urgently extend material, financial and technical support to Sierra Leone in its efforts to eradicate Ebola out of Sierra Leone and West Africa as a

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whole so as to mitigate the negative impact of the disease on the economic performance of the country.

It reiterated its thanks and appreciation to the State of Qatar, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam and the Islamic Solidarity Fund for the financial support extended to the OIC Trust Fund for Sierra Leone at its inception. It called for further financial contributions to replenish the depleted financial resources of the said Fund and urged the OIC General Secretariat to speed up the process of unifying all Funds under one joint Secretariat, which will be based in Doha, State of Qatar. In his statement at the opening of the meeting, the OIC Secretary General Iyad Ameen Madani said that the OIC and its Member States have spared no efforts to extend their assistance to the Government and people of Sierra Leone who never felt abandoned to their plight in these dire periods. As a response, the General Secretariat organised several meetings with civil society organisations and more importantly it teamed up with the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) to hold a special session on Ebola.

He pointed out that important financial resources were availed to Sierra Leone by the Late King Abdullah of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia who earmarked the amount of US dollars 35 million through the IDB to come to the rescue of African countries affected by the Ebola disease. The IDB also did the same by extending substantial financial assistance to Sierra Leonean authorities through grants and other types of funding.

Madani seized the opportunity to urge all OIC Member States to continue to support Sierra Leone so as to avoid any future outbreak of the Ebola epidemic considering deadly nature of the virus. He further urged both Sierra Leonean authorities and the OIC Member States to work hand in hand to improve Sierra Leone medical facilities including the rehabilitation of its sewage system in order to avoid the recurrence of any cholera outbreak.

OIC Journal September - December 2015 13

SPECIAL REPORT

Annual Coordination Meeting in New York

OIC Contact Group on Myanmar

Adopts Plan of Action on Rohingya Muslims The OIC Contact Group on Myanmar held a meeting on the sidelines of the Annual Coordination Meeting (ACM) of the OIC Foreign Ministers at the UN in New York on Wednesday Sept. 30 in which it welcomed the proposals of the OIC’s Special Envoy to Myanmar and adopted his recommended plan of action.

The meeting was chaired by OIC Secretary General HE Iyad Ameen Madani, in the presence of OIC’s Special Envoy to Myanmar HE Tan Seri Syed Hamid Albar and the Director General of the Arakan Rohingya Union Dr. Wakar Uddin.

The meeting called on Myanmar to abide to international law and human rights covenants, take necessary measures to stop violence against and the discrimination of Rohingya Muslims, restore the citizenship of Rohingya Muslims which was revoked in the Citizenship Act of 1982, implement an inclusive transparent policy towards ethnic and religious communities as an integral part of this process, and consider Rohingya Muslims an ethnic minority in accordance with UN General Assembly Resolution 238/64.

It also called on Myanmar’s Government to take necessary measures to restore peace and inter-communal harmony through dialogue, and establish a comprehensive reconciliation process for all segments of Myanmar society. The Meting agreed to continue efforts to coordinate and dispatch humanitarian life-saving aid especially medical and nutrition supply to the affected areas in Myanmar. It took note that infrastructure development assistance and community engagements would be more strategic and effective move in bringing peace in the affected areas. It further reiterated its call for Myanmar to revive the agreement to open an OIC office for humanitarian aid in Yangon.

The meeting also called on OIC Member States and the international community to continue efforts in conjunction with those of the UN to ensure the return of all Myanmar refugees displaced from their homes in Rakhine (Arakan) province.

In his opening speech, OIC Secretary General HE Iyad Ameen Madani said that the immediate crisis affecting the Rohingya boat people in the Andaman Sea has subsided since the last meeting of the Contact Group that was held on the sidelines of the 42nd Council of Foreign Ministers held in Kuwait on May 28 2015.

“I would like to commend the decision of Malaysia and Indonesia to accept the boat refugees and acknowledge the support provided by other member countries to the humanitarian effort. However, we must not lose sight of the fact that the suffering of the Rohingya people continues in numerous other ways and the conditions for them in Myanmar remains serious,” he said.

He shed light on the fact that the authorities in Myanmar continue to present obstacles to the full recognition of the Rohingya Muslims and their right to citizenship. “The revocation by the Myanmar government of ‘white’ identify cards in May has left hundreds of thousands of Rohingya in a tenuous situation and vulnerable to expulsion. Alternative identification cards which have been proposed still require the Rohingya to deny their identity and register as ‘Bengali’, which only exacerbates and prolongs the discrimination,” he said.

He, therefore, called for the need for OIC Member States to intensify their efforts, bi-laterally and at the international level, to wield pressure on Myanmar to halt its oppression of Rohingya Muslims and reinstate their citizenship rights unequivocally. “The OIC has actively engaged with the international community on this issue and at the last session of the UN Human Rights Council, a resolution was passed on Myanmar, in close coordination between the OIC and European countries,” he said.

OIC Contact Group

on Jammu and Kashmir Reconfirm Full Support The OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir met on 29 September 2015, at the Ministerial level on the sidelines of the Annual Coordination Meeting in New York. The meeting was attended by delegations of Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Niger, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

The meeting was opened by Mr. Iyad Ameen Madani, the OIC Secretary General, who reconfirmed the principled position of the OIC in fully supporting the people of Jammu and Kashmir in their struggle to achieve their legitimate rights. He expressed the hope

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OIC Journal September - December 2015

that solidarity and support of the OIC Member States would be translated into practical and effective measures in order to help people of Kashmir.

Other distinguished members of the Contact Group also made statements and reiterated their continued support to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. They all called for peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. Statements were also made by the Representatives of the Kashmiri people.

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SPECIAL REPORT

Annual Coordination Meeting in New York

First Meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Yemen

Condemns Illegal Intervention of Regional Powers The OIC Contact Group on Yemen held its first meeting on the sidelines of the OIC Annual Coordination Meeting of Foreign Ministers at the UN Headquarters in New York on October 1, with the presence of the Foreign Minister of Yemen Riad Yassin.

The group stressed its continued support for Yemen’s President Abdu Rabbo Mansour Hadi, and national efforts to achieve security and political and economic stability through a resumption of the political process.

The group also welcomed the return of legitimate state institutions exercising their authority in Aden as a first step to restoring legitimate state control on all parts of the country, adding that peace in Yemen can only be achieved with the withdrawal of the Houthi militia and Ali Abdullah Saleh from Sanaa and all Yemeni cities and an end of aggression against the people of Yemen.

The Contact Group strongly condemned regional powers for illegitimately intervening within Yemen and inciting sectarianism, which is fueling the conflict.

The meeting reiterated the OIC’s support for military action undertaken to defend Yemen, its people and its legitimate government on the invitation of President Hadi.

OIC Secretary General Iyad Ameen Madani delivered a speech at the beginning of the meeting in which he said that Yemen has been witnessing important positive developments since an emergency meeting was held on the issue at the OIC General Secretariat in Jeddah in June 2015.

These developments, he said, have been in the form of the extension of Yemen’s legitimate authority in many of its regions and the functioning of the state’s legitimate institutions in Aden as a first step in restoring state legitimacy in all parts of the country.

He reiterated the OIC’s support for coalition forces in their efforts to maintain the unity of Yemen’s people and territory and address threats to the security of the country and the wider region.

“I would like to seize this opportunity to reiterate the commitment of the OIC to stand up for the unity and territorial integrity of Yemen and to fully support constitutional legitimacy represented by H.E. President Abdu Rabuh Mansour Hadi, President of the Republic of Yemen. We are also committed to the national efforts being made by the president to achieve security as well as political and economic stability in Yemen and to resume the political process,” he said.

He also said that dialogue remains the only option for peace and stability in Yemen and appreciated the efforts of Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmad, the UN Secretary General’s envoy, to bring all of Yemen’s factions around the table in line with international resolutions.

In relation to the humanitarian situation, Madani said that the OIC continues to coordinate with the Yemeni side and its partners to hold a conference to mobilize necessary resources.

Side Events on Women Empowerment

and Role of Media in Countering Islamophobia The OIC Permanent Mission to the UN in New York hosted two events on the sidelines of the Annual Coordination Meeting on October 2, 2015. One of the events was with creative minds and artists in the United States on the role of the media and arts including films, plays, art exhibitions, on countering Islamophobia and presenting a diverse perspective of Muslims and the Muslim world. It was a lively conversation with the attendance of the OIC Secretary General, Iyad Ameen Madani, and other of-

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ficials from the OIC, to hear and exchange views on what can be done using the media and arts to reach out, communicate and exchange cultural experiences.

The other event was on women empowerment and it was attended by a large group of Muslim women working in various sectors and field including civil society, academia, UN agencies and NGOs. Some of the issues that came up were promoting women’s education particularly religious, empowering women in local communities

to address root causes of violence and to stem radicalization, encourage women to participate in politics and peacebuilding, and promote civil society efforts to support women.

Overall, the two events were constructive, insightful and open the door for cooperation between the OIC and the various institutions in the US on peace initiatives, intercultural dialogue and civil society engagement.

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SPECIAL REPORT

Annual Coordination Meeting in New York

OIC Ministerial Contact Group on Bosnia Herzegovina

Concern Over the Slow Progress in Political and Economic Reforms The OIC Ministerial Contact Group on Bosnia Herzegovina convened on 30 September 2015 in New York and was attended by the OIC Secretary General and other members of the Group. The meeting reviewed the general situation in Bosnia Herzegovina since the last reporting period and reiterated the OIC support to preserve unity, territorial integrity, sovereignty and international personality of Bosnia and Herzegovina, within internationally recognized borders, as a fully functional and self-sustainable state capable of carrying out its powers and fulfilling its international obligations without absolute blockade mechanisms as well as its multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious structure.

While welcoming the general elections that took place in October 2014 where the National Presidency and House of Representatives are elected, the meeting expressed concern over the slow progress in political and economic reforms that are necessary tools in getting the country out of the present institutional stalemate and moving the country to develop a positive atmosphere that would foster a constructive political dialogue and lead to the resolution of all outstanding issues between all parties. It called upon the all the political leaders of Bosnia and Herzegovina to join their forces for the common future of the country and thus focus on the reform process.

The meeting emphasized the importance of the decision-making

powers of the Bosnia and Herzegovina legal structures of the proper functioning of the state and stressed the need to tackle any existing mechanisms that may hamper these powers, as part of the reform process.

It expressed its deep concern over inadequate implementation of the key elements of the Dayton Peace Agreement, particularly relating to the building of the state institutions, regulatory framework, and return of refugees and displaced persons of their origin.

Meanwhile, the meeting acknowledged the significance of the continued contributions of the OIC countries of the Peace Implementation Council to the budget of the Office of the High Council.

It called upon OIC Member States and OIC Financial institutions to contribute generously to the OIC Trust Fund for the Return of the Displaced Persons in Bosnia and Herzegovina to enable the Fund to continue its reconstruction and development activities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The meeting emphasized the importance of the economic development in consolidating peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina and invited the Islamic Development Bank to develop result-oriented projects in cooperation with relevant development agencies of the Member States for ameliorating the economic and social conditions of the people of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

OIC Contact Group on Mali Highlighted the Necessity to Fully Restore State Authority in all Parts of the Country The OIC Contact Group on Mali met at Ministerial level on 28th September 2015 on the sidelines of the Annual Coordination Meeting (ACM) of Foreign Ministers during the 70th Session of the UNGA in New York. The meeting reviewed the latest developments in Mali and the peace process. It restated its firm and principled commitment for the respect of the sovereignty, unity and the territorial integrity of Mali. The meeting reiterated its strong condemnation of terrorism and all forms of extremism and violence including organized crime, drug and human trafficking, which continue to threaten the peace, security and stability of Mali, the Sahel and other countries of the region.

The meeting noted the fragile situation prevailing in north Mali and highlighted the necessity to fully restore State authority in all parts of the country through a comprehensive and inclusive approach including the security, development and spiritual dimensions. It called on the parties to fully respect the May 2014 cease-fire and the relevant declarations signed during the Algiers peace process and stressed the importance

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for the implementation of confidence building measures. It warned spoilers and other enemies of peace to desist from negative activities or face severe sanctions.

The meeting, while pledging OIC’s full support to the accord as one its guarantors and as a member the international mediation team, reiterated the determination of the Organization to actively support the Malian parties in the critical implementation phase through its full participation in the Monitoring and Implementation Committee.

The meeting requested the Member States and OIC financial institutions, particularly the IDB, to provide the necessary assistance for the long-term development of north Mali. It also called on them to actively contribute to the socio-economic development and reconstruction of the North. It tasked the Secretary General to initiate necessary actions that may lead to the creation of the Trust Fund as decided by the 12th Islamic Summit.

The meeting took note of the plan of action for Mali and the Sahel proposed by the OIC Special Envoy for Mali and the Sa-

OIC Journal September - December 2015

A soldier from Mali surveys the scene of a terrorist attack at hotel Byblos in Sevare, Mali, 11 August 2015 (epa)

hel and requested the Member States and the relevant OIC institutions to assist in its implementation as a way of contributing to sustainable peace and socio-economic development in Mali and the Sahel region.

The meeting also called on the Member States, OIC institutions and Islamic NGOs to continue to extend generously humanitarian assistance in order to alleviate the suffering of the Malian IDPs and refugees including supporting the efforts of the host countries and the Government of Mali.

The meeting reiterated its call on ISESCO and IRCICA to take the necessary measures in collaboration with UNESCO to restore, preserve and protect the rich Islamic cultural heritage in Mali.

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Annual Coordination Meeting in New York

OIC Contact Group on Somalia and UN-OIC-AU Event on Somalia

Focus on Peace and State Building Process

The OIC Contact Group on Somalia

OIC Secretary General Iyad Ameen Madani speaks at the joint UN-OIC-AU high-level meeting on Somalia

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation held two meetings on Somalia on the sidelines of the Annual Coordination Meeting (ACM) of Foreign Minister during the 70th Session of the UNGA in New York on 28th September 2015. The OIC Contact Group on Somalia met at Ministerial level under the chairmanship of Qatar. It reviewed the latest developments in Somalia and heard from the Somali Foreign Minister, Abdusalam H. Omer, and the OIC Secretary General, Iyad Ameen Madani.

In his statement, the Secretary General of the OIC said, “As a fragile state, Somalia remains in dire need of massive help in all areas, notably, capacity building, state and institution building, employment creation, poverty alleviation, socio-economic development, national reconciliation, countering violent extremism and terrorism which still poses grave danger to the country and the region as evidenced by the recent escalation of terrorist incidents inside Somalia and in neighboring Kenya.” He added that for Somalia to achieve a future of security, governance and governing institutions have to remain focused and united and avoid unnecessary distractions.

The Secretary General reiterated OIC’s full solidarity with Somalia and informed the meeting that actions have commenced towards the transformation of the OIC Humanitarian Office in Mogadishu to a Development Office with the added responsibility of monitoring the democratization process.

Madani thanked the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the signing of a MoU with the OIC to implement a US$72.5 million worth of development projects as part of the OIC $350 million OIC Response for Somalia in some priority areas over a period of three years. The first phase of which covering the period 2013-2014 and totaling $24 million has been successfully implemented in five sectors consistent with strategic priorities of the Government. He invited other Member States to emulate the Saudi example by completing the funding gap for the Somalia Response. He urged officials from the Member States to visit Somalia and called on them to reopen their diplomatic missions in Mogadishu. Madani announced that in response to the invitation of the Federal Government he will soon undertake his first visit to Somalia as Secretary General to demonstrate the full solidarity with this founding Member State.

The Contact Group also heard interventions from other members.

During the deliberations focusing on peace and state building process as well as the stabilization of the country, the meeting conveyed its full support for the Government led by Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke. It strongly condemned all acts of

terrorism and violent extremism perpetrated by the remnants of the Al-Shabaab militants called on the militants to heed reason and abandon violence by joining the peace building and reconciliation process.

The meeting recalled the Six Pillar Plan of the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and expressed its full support to the Plan, which seeks to address the current challenges facing the country. It urged the international community to continue to provide in a coordinated and sustained manner its full support for the implementation of the Plan consistent with the obligations of both the international community and Somalia in the reconstruction process. The meeting called on the OIC Member States and Financial Institutions to step up their assistance to the FGS in support of state, institution and peace building as well as the reconstruction efforts.

The joint UN-OIC-AU high-level meeting on Somalia, held under the title “Investing in peace: Priorities for 2016 and beyond”, witnessed commitments by several countries to support Somalia in areas of security, development and state building. The meeting was opened by UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, and addressed by the President of Somalia, HE Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Ms. Nikosazana DlaminiZuma, the OIC Secretary General, Iyad Ameen Madani, and the Secretary General of the Arab League, Dr. Nabil El-Arabi.

In his statement, the OIC Secretary General urged the Somali government to focus on laying the foundations for durable peace, democracy and development as pillars for a new Somalia. He said that one of the key priorities for the country is creating the auspicious safe and secure environment and agreeing on a widely acceptable electoral process for 2016 that will produce a more legitimate and popular leadership. He called for supporting AMISOM and the Somali Security forces, and in this regard, called on the UNSC to lift completely the arms embargo on Somalia as a way of accelerating the building of the capacity of the security sector.

Madani said that Somalia requires increased international support to combat terrorism, and that to address this menace a comprehensive approach is needed in addition to the use of force to counter violent extremism. In furtherance to an earlier offer of amnesty by the government to the militants who abandon violence and join the peace process, which the OIC welcomed, he said that the OIC is planning to pursue de-radicalization initiatives based on a right ideological discourse of moderation to counter the narratives of the extremists.

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SPECIAL REPORT

Annual Coordination Meeting in New York

Madani to the Security Council:

OIC Takes a Four-prong Approach to Addressing the Challenges in MENA Region In his statement to the Security Council in the open debate on October 1 on “Settlement of conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa and countering terrorist threat in the region,” in connection with the agenda item “Maintenance of international peace and security”, the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Iyad Ameen Madani, stressed that as a committed and strategic partner of the UN system and of the international community, the OIC exerts every possible effort to bring remedies to these intertwined and daunting challenges the MENA region is witnessing.

However, the Secretary General urged that while assuming responsibility as the international community to provide solutions and remedies, that it should be honest and properly diagnose the historical backgrounds and root causes and the dynamics

which have brought about all the disasters and failures that need to be dealt with now.

“We must also analyze whether the international and regional peace and security mechanisms are capable of meeting today’s hurdles,” said Madani.

He added: The paralysis in the region, the absence of a paradigm of a peaceful region and an intellectual malaise that took over a Muslim world intent on regurgitating, instead of reinvigorating its traditions, cultural expressions and intellectual discourse; coupled with the absence of an international collective political will to tackle the conflicts in the Middle East, and what seems to be chronic divisions within this Council, have allowed such menaces in the region to continue and reach the proportions we are here to contemplate today.

Therefore, the Secretary General said that the multifaceted dimension of the region’s

conflicts must be addressed. Within this context, the OIC initiates specific projects that focus on understanding and addressing: i) the political and socio-economic contexts that bring forth conditions conducive to the spread of terrorism and violent extremism; ii) the need to counter all types of radical extremist discourse in order to delegitimize the violent and manipulative acts committed in the name of religion, ideology or claims of cultural superiority; iii) the underlying causes of sectarian violence; the attempts to politicize the sectarian differences, the emphasis on sects as the essence of identity, and iv) the potential of external actors penetrating terrorist and extremist groups for the purpose of serving their own political agenda, and the threat of non-Arab and non-Muslim foreign fighters.

Bilateral Meetings on Regional and International Developments The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Iyad Ameen Madani held many bilateral meetings during the ten-day stay in New York for the UN General Assembly and OIC Annual Coordination Meeting. He met with HE Kamilov Abdulaziz Khafizovich, Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan, which is hosting the 2016 Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM). Madani also met with HE Feridun Sinirlioglu, the Foreign Minister of Turkey, which is hosting the regular OIC Summit in April 2016, and with Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, the Foreign Minister of Kuwait, which is the current chair of the CFM. He discussed with them preparations and activities in relation to these events.

The Secretary General held a range of bilateral meetings with foreign ministers from member and non-member states with whom he discussed regional and international developments and issues, including the Middle East peace process and developments in Palestine as well as combating extremism and terrorism. The Secretary General met with HE Ditmir Bushati, Foreign Minister of Albania, HE Erlan Abdyldaev, Foreign Minister of Kyrgyzstan, and HE Elmar Mammadyarov, Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan. He also met with HE Sartaj Aziz, Adviser to the Prime Minister of Pakistan on Foreign Affairs, HE Sirodjidin Aslov, Foreign Minister of Tajikistan, and HE Isa Mustafa and HE Hashim Thaci, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister of Kosovo, to whom he expressed OIC’s support of Kosovo’s membership in the UN. He also had a meeting with HE Nikos Kotzias, the Foreign Minister of Greece.

From the African region he met with HE Madam Aichatou Boulama, Foreign Minister of Niger, and HE Abdullaye Diop, Foreign Minister of Mali. He discussed developments in the Sahel and in Central African Republic and ways to resolve conflicts and tension there.

From the Arab region Madani met with HE Dr. Ibrahim Al-Jaafari, Foreign Minister of Iraq, with whom he discussed the situation in Iraq and holding “Makkah2” to address sectarian tension. Madani 18 OIC Journal September - December 2015

also met HE Ibrahim Ghandour Foreign Minister of Sudan, HE Ramtane Lamamra, Foreign Minister of Algeria, and HE Sameh Hassan Shoukry, Foreign Minister of Egypt, which is the current chair of the Islamic Summit.

The Secretary General also met with Mr. Stefan De Mistura, Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General for Syria, and discussed the situation in Syria and the possibilities forward to end the crisis, an issue he also discussed in his meeting with HE Sergey Lavrov, Foreign Minister of Russia, with whom Madani also exchanged views on furthering OIC relations with Russia, which is an observer member.

There was also a meeting with HE Timo Soini, Foreign Minister of Finland, and HE Mustafa Akinci and HE Ms. Emine Colak, the Presi-

Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan

Foreign Minister of Niger

Foreign Minister of Egypt

Foreign Minister of Russia

dent and Foreign Minister of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.

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Annual Coordination Meeting in New York

OIC Secretary General Announces Establishment of Messaging Center to

Counter Extremist Propaganda and OIC Center for Cyber Security

The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Iyad Ameen Madani announced the establishment of a Messaging Center at the General Secretariat that aims at countering extremist discourse and propaganda. This was made by the Secretary General during his statement at the “Leaders’ Summit on Countering ISIL and Violent Extremism”, which was opened by US President Barack Obama at the UNGA on 29 September 2015.

Secretary General Madani said that the Messaging Center is part of OIC’s continued efforts and deepened commitment in the fight for justice and for dismantling extreme discourse. The International Islamic Fiqh Academy would be actively contributing to this Center providing clear and unambiguous interpretation of Islamic texts.

Mr. Madani also indicated that the advent of cyber terrorism through the utilization of new information and communication technologies by terrorist groups for the purpose of recruitment and incitement to terrorism is another issue of prime concern for OIC. To tackle this, the OIC gathered experts on Cyber Security from the Member States and initiated the process of establishing an OIC Center for Cyber Security, which would focus on capacity building of its Member States in dealing with Cyber Terrorism.

Other initiatives by the OIC to counter extremist discourse include organizing, together with its specialized institution ISESCO and the Global Counter Terrorism Forum (GCTF), a conference on fighting

violent extremism through education, to be held in December this year in Rabat, Morocco. The OIC General Secretariat is also working on a joint Symposium with the UN Counter Terrorism Executive Directorate (CTED) on implementing provisions of Global Strategy to Counter Terrorism for OIC Member States.

Mr. Madani reiterated that we must address the multifaceted dimensions of the phenomenon of violent extremism.

Madani to the Foreign Ministers’ Coordination Meeting

The General Secretariat Seeks to Materialize Member States’ Vision to Counter Terrorism The OIC Foreign Ministers held their Annual Coordinating Meeting at the UN Headquarters in New York on the October 1, 2015 under the chairmanship of Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al Hamad Al Sabah, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait. Sheikh Sabah opened the meeting with a statement in which he addressed the challenges and crises encountered by the Islamic World such as unemployment, poverty, outbreak of diseases and terrorism.

Sheikh Sabah referred to the UN Summit held a few days prior to the Meeting, which adopted the post 2015 development agenda.

He said that we are required individually and collectively, through our organization, to play an effective role to achieve the ambitious sustainable development goals to confront future challenges, such as poverty, diseases, illiteracy, hunger, food security, water security, energy and climate changes. All these challenges require us to unify and coordinate our efforts. We should also seek at the same time to adopt the draft new OIC programme of action (2016-2025), which would promote social, economic, humanitarian, and scientific fields. It would also contribute to the promotion and improvement of the living standards of millions people in our Islamic World.

The OIC Secretary General, Iyad Ameen Madani, delivered a statement in which he pointed out that the General Secretariat was keenly interested in informing Member States about what was done at the level of the resolutions adopted by the Ordinary Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers held last May in the State

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of Kuwait. He also spoke about the implementation of the Member States’ vision regarding combating terrorism and extremism within the framework of a specified programme, which the General Secretariat and its organs seek to implement as well as measures taken by the General Secretariat to establish the dispute settlement and prevention unit.

Madani added that dealing with political crises with which the Islamic world was teeming, was not confined only to the political, or even the military aspect whenever necessary, but they should also essentially include giving importance to the development aspect with its economic, social, cultural and scientific dimensions, to which the General Secretariat pays great attention. Therefore, the General Secretariat is now putting the final touches for a Ten Year Programme of Action (TYPOA), which would continue up to 2025.

The Secretary General also underlined that promoting coordination and cooperation among Member States at international fora, was provided for in resolutions passed by the Council of Foreign Ministers especially with regard to the Palestinian and other priority causes. Hence, the Secretary General called on all Member States to comply with the stances adopted within the framework of the OIC given the importance to preserve our collective interests.

The coordination meeting discussed several issues that figured in the UN agenda. It also adopted the report of the Ministerial Contact Groups.

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OIC-Global Fund Event Stresses on Improved Investments in Quality Health Care AIDS, TB and Malaria Still Pose a Global Public Health Threat; Derail Development Programs in Many OIC Member States

A joint Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Global Fund event focused on the importance of the partnership between the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the Global Fund in addressing HIV, tuberculosis and malaria with a snapshot on results achieved so far. The event, held in New York on 27 September 2015 on the sidelines of the UNGA, was addressed by the OIC Secretary General, Mr. Iyad Ameen Madani, the Global Fund Board Chair, Mr. Norbert Hauser, and the Minister of Health of Senegal, Dr. Marie Awa Coll-Seck who all emphasize the need to continue addressing HIV, TB and malaria in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals. There was also a panel discussion with the participation of senior officials from the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF).

In his statement at the event, the OIC Secretary General commended the strategic partnership with the Global Fund, which has invested substantial amount of resources in the OIC Member States.

By the middle of 2015 Global Fund’s assistance to the OIC Member States were close to US $ 8 billion. The Global Fund has supported programs that have saved lives by providing antiretroviral treatment (ART) to the people living with HIV/AIDS, malaria treatment and millions of treated mosquito nets as well as treating millions of TB cases. The Global Fund has further played and continues to play an active role in the implementation of the OIC Strategic Health Program of Action (SHPA); a blue print for intra-OIC cooperation in the health sector.

Despite these achievements in combating the three diseases, cau-

tioned Mr. Madani, the fight is still far from over. “AIDS, TB and Malaria still pose a global public health threat and their devastating impact is derailing development programs in many of our Member States,” he said. Mr. Madani added: As we embark on the new global Development program i.e. 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, we should not lose sight of the fact that the majority of our Member States have not been able to meet the three health-related Millennium Development Goals, that is MDGs 4 (Reduce child mortality), 5 (improve maternal health), and 6 (combat HIV/AIDS and malaria and other diseases). He stressed that accelerated and focused interventions need to be developed and properly implemented to help those countries within the context of the post-2015 development agenda. Such interventions must include improved investments in quality health care for all, including the strengthening of the national health systems and a well-trained health work force.

Against this background, the Secretary General appealed to OIC Member States that have the means, to work with the Global Fund in addressing the funding gaps in the countries most affected by the scourge of the three diseases, a large number of which happen to be in the OIC region.

Mr. Madani emphasized that the OIC is committed to strengthening the strategic partnerships with its development partners in order to ensure that health development gets its share of attention within the framework of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and the OIC Strategic Health Program of Action (SHPA). “We must continue to strive for access to affordable quality health services for all, as this is fundamental in achieving sustainable development in our States,” he said.

Mr. Hauser, on his part, said that health is central to the SDGs both as a critical goal in its own right but also as an integral component of how we address poverty, gender equality, education, sustained economic growth and reduced inequality.

Senegal’s Minister of Health, Dr. Coll-Seck, stressed on the point that health financing remains a priority in most political agendas; innovative schemes will serve as a means to increase strategic investment.

In this context, the Global Fund, the Islamic Development Bank and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation are currently partnering over the Lives and Livelihood Fund as pioneering innovative instrument, which will unlock important amounts of concessional financing aimed at saving lives and improving livelihoods in OIC member states.

OIC and UN Secretaries General Discuss Topical Issues The OIC Secretary General Iyad Ameen Madani, met the UN Secretary General at the latter’s office on October 2, 2015 on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. The two sides discussed a number of regional and international issues foremost of which the Palestinian issue especially the events in Al-Quds and the Israeli acts of aggression against the Aqsa Mosque. The meeting

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also addressed the current developments in Syria and the situation of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.

In addition, the two sides reviewed bilateral cooperation prospects between the two organizations. They stressed the need for good preparation for the next consultative meeting between the two organizations to be held in Geneva next May.

OIC Journal September - December 2015

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WORLD AFFAIRS OIC Supports Reforms in Iraq

something that would help to unify efforts and mobilize capabilities to fight Daesh.

Condemns destruction of historical monuments in Syria and Iraq by Daesh

Iraqi Prime Minister Al-Abbadi receives OIC delegation

During his audience with Prime Minister of Iraq Dr. Haider Al-Abbadi on 13 August 2015 in Baghdad, Dr. Abdulaziz AlSebail, Chief Adviser to the Secretary General and Director General of Cabinet at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), conveyed the OIC’s support and backing of the reforms adopted by Iraq’s Prime Minister and endorsed by the Iraqi Parliament.

AlSebail also affirmed OIC Secretary General Iyad Ameen Madani’s confidence that the reforms will be instrumental in creating cohesion among all of Iraq’s people, and reiterated Madani’s support for Iraq’s legitimate leadership, the unity of Iraqi territory and people and preservation of Iraq’s national sovereignty, security and stability.

He further handed the Prime Minister a letter from the Secretary General in which he reiterated the OIC’s readiness to contribute to the Iraqi leadership’s efforts to see comprehensive national reconciliation for the benefit and prosperity of Iraq and its people.

On his part, Al-Abbadi paid tribute to the OIC for its effective role in supporting Iraq and expressed readiness to work hand in hand with the OIC in achieving national reconciliation in the country.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Dr. Ibrahim Al-Jaafari also received AlSebail and reasserted Iraq’s committed interest in the OIC’s role during this important stage in supporting Iraqi national unity.

The reforms followed weeks of protests by voters angry at the way the country was governed and at the lack of investment in infrastructure. Reform was the promise on which Al-Abbadi was brought to power; this included the abolition of the post of Vice President, which was occupied by former Prime Ministers Iyad Alawi and Nouri Al-Maliki. The reforms also included the immediate abolition of the Vice Prime Minister role and the streamlining of all ministries and incorporating them into each other. Supporters of Al-Abbadi said he shows ability to root out corruption in Iraq,

OIC Secretary General Iyad Ameen Madani condemned the destruction of historical monuments in Syria and Iraq by Daesh, especially the Baal Shamin Temple in Syria.

Madani said that the action is at variance with all religious and humanitarian values and international norms, which encourage the protection of monuments, places of worship and all symbols of culture, religion and civilization.

He added that criminal acts such as this are aimed at destroying harmony among different cultures and peaceful coexistence, characteristics that reflect the core values of the various cultures and civilizations that have characterized the region throughout history.

He also stressed that those responsible have diverged from the path of Islam and its values and principles, which do not discriminate along racial and ethnic groups but respect human heritage, thus contributing immensely to the building of civilizations and world heritage.

The Secretary General also called for concerted international efforts to counter the destruction of religious and cultural heritage in Syria and Iraq, which is a great loss to the Syrian and Iraqi peoples and to the entire Islamic world and humanity.

OIC Secretary General Attends Opening of New Suez Canal

Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Iyad Ameen Madani attended the opening of the New Suez Canal in Egypt on 6 August 2015. ​Madani participated in the opening ceremony following an invitation from President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. Taking a year to complete and costing over $8 billion, the project widens and deepens part of the canal to increase traffic and revenue. According to the Suez Canal Authority, 72 kilometers of new waterways have been added.

OIC Secretary General Calls for Supporting Flood Victims in Southeast Asia

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) followed closely and

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OIC Journal September - December 2015 21

WORLD AFFAIRS with deep concern the torrential monsoon rains brought by tropical cyclone Komen and other severe weather conditions across Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Myanmar and parts of Southeast Asia during August.

Heavy flooding in the region caused the loss of hundreds of lives, the displacement of millions of people and wide-spread destruction of property.

Secretary General of the OIC Iyad Ameen Madani conveyed his profound sympathy to the families of those who died and appealed to Member States, international and regional humanitarian organizations and non-governmental organizations to offer their support and assistance to all affected by the disaster.

At least 493 people were reported dead as officials continued to tally the losses in six Asian countries. The rains and cyclone combined to bring over 1 meter of rain in parts of Bangladesh and Myanmar and caused severe flooding in Pakistan, India, Nepal and Vietnam over two weeks.

Deterioration of the Security Situation in Northern Mali in August

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) expressed its deep concern over the deterioration of the security situation in northern Mali in mid-August and vigorously condemned the aggravation of tension and the escalation of violence between the main signatory groups of the Accord for Peace and Reconciliation in the country.

Secretary General of the OIC Iyad Ameen Madani said that hostilities among the armed groups are a flagrant violation of the accord signed under the aegis of Algeria and the international community.

He called on all parties to abide to the agreement by renouncing violence and to accentuate the values of peace and the spirit of fraternal reconciliation among Malians.

Madani added that, as a member of the mediation team, the OIC reaffirmed its attachment to the implementation of the accord and its readiness to back up every regional and international effort that could contribute to peace and stability in Mali.

The deal provided for the creation of elected regional assemblies in the north, and also called for an overhaul of the Malian army. The failure of the June peace agreement to address the long-standing divisions has already led to repeated clashes since the signing of the deal.

OIC Deems Elections in Occupied Nagorno-Karabakh Illegal

The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) deemed the so-called elections for the “self-governing bodies” to be held in the occupied Nagorno-Karabakh region of the Republic of Azerbaijan on 13 September 2015 illegal and in contravention of the resolutions of the UN Security Council, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the OIC. It further reiterated the OIC’s continued support to the Republic of Azerbaijan for her efforts towards a political settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict on the basis of territorial integrity and the inviolability of the internationally recognized borders of the Republic of Azerbaijan in accordance with relevant international resolutions and decisions.

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OIC Journal September - December 2015

Resurgence of Violence in Central African Republic in September

Internally Displaced Person (IDP) women working at Saint Sauveur IDP camp in the capital Bangui, the Central African Republic, 19 November 2015 (epa)

Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Iyad Ameen Madani called for calm and restraint in the Central African Republic following a resurgence of violence there.

Madani voiced his deep concern at the restart in sectarian and communal violence in September which killed dozens of people in Bangui. He also appealed to armed groups to abandon weapons and respect the letter and spirit of the conclusions of the Bangui National Forum, an event held in May 2015 to achieve reconciliation in the country.

While expressing sadness at the huge loss of lives during the confrontations in the past few days that also caused destruction and looting of property, the Secretary General urged communities to avoid further escalation. He urged the transitional authorities as well as the UN Mission, MINUSCA, to assume their full responsibilities and ensure the lives of civilians are protected.

The situation in Bangui remained tense and unpredictable after several days of tension and confrontations between armed groups initially and then between international forces and armed groups.

OIC Ambassadorial Group in New York met with OIC Special Envoy for CAR An OIC Group Meeting was recently held at the Ambassadorial level with the participation of the OIC Special Envoy for the Central African Republic, Dr. Cheikh Tidiane Gadio.

At the meeting—held at the United Nations (UN) in New York on 12th October 2015—Special Envoy Gadio called on the UN to ensure protection of all vulnerable communities in the Central African Republic (CAR) including Muslims.

The OIC Ambassadorial Group called for reinforcing the role of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in CAR in protecting civilians in Bangui and other areas. It also called on the UN to work towards holding general elections by the end of this year with the participation of all segments of society, including the Muslim minority.

At a joint press conference, Gadio said that the “international community should ensure protection of all vulnerable communities, including the Muslim community in CAR.” He also condemned all forms of violence in CAR, and called on the international community to work for smooth, sound and inclusive elections.

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WORLD AFFAIRS Gadio appealed to OIC Member Countries to strongly support the OIC Secretary General’s initiatives in the country. “The best protection we can bring to the Central African Republic Muslim community is to stay involved and to help finance elections, disarmament and refugee resettlement, and contribute overall to global national reconciliation,” he said, adding that efforts should focus on successfully completing the transitional process.

He further underlined the need to ensure elections are all inclusive, and called on OIC Member States to come up with necessary support for the opening of an OIC Humanitarian Office, as per the MOU signed with the CAR government.

During his visit in New York, Gadio met with Herve Ladsous, UN Undersecretary General for Peacekeeping, and Adama Dieng, UNSG Special Advisor for Prevention of Genocide.

Successful Parliamentary Election in Kyrgyzstan

Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Iyad Ameen Madani congratulated the people of the Kyrgyz Republic for a successful parliamentary election that was held on 4 October 2015.

OIC observers monitored the election in Bishkek and neighboring towns and were satisfied that the process was conducted in a transparent, democratic and professional manner in conformity with Kyrgyz election laws as well as internationally accepted norms.

Madani commended the great sense of maturity and responsibility displayed by the people of Kyrgyzstan through this election to stand up for principles of democracy, rule of law, transparency and good governance. He expressed confidence that the success of the election would contribute to strengthening democratic practices and institutions for the development and prosperity of the country and its people.

This year’s parliamentary election was the first to be held under a new election law since 2011. The law was developed partially in response to international recommendations. The Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan (SDPK) became the biggest party with 27.45 percent of votes and increased its share of seats from 26 to 38.

OIC Attends Opening Session of National Dialogue Conference in Sudan

At the invitation of the Government of Sudan, a delegation from the General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) participated in the opening session of a dialogue conference—the Sudan National Dialogue (SND)—held on Saturday 10 October 2015 in Khartoum.

The delegation was led by Ambassador Abdullah Alim, Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs. Alim said that the OIC participation in the meeting is in line with the resolutions of the Council of Foreign Ministers on solidarity with Sudan adopted at its latest session in Kuwait in May 2015.

He also praised the courageous and responsible attitudes of the parties that declared their commitment to national dialogue, and reiterated the OIC invitation to those parties that did not participate and those which still carry weapons to undertake their historical responsibilities in front of the people of Sudan.

He called on them to assume a spirit of sacrifice and reconciliation at this critical juncture in the history of Sudan and utilize this opportunity to achieve peace in the country by participating in the

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dialogue. He said the national dialogue process is the only option to resolve the country’s issues and that rejecting it would bring Sudan back to violence, something that has only brought instability and disrupted development.

Alim stressed the OIC’s commitment to harness all its capabilities to support constructive dialogue among the people of Sudan to promote peace and stability in Sudan, one of the founding countries of the OIC, and to realize the principle of Islamic solidarity.

Al-Bashir proposed the holding of a national dialogue in January 2014 to find a solution to the country’s ailing economy and conflicts in Darfur, South Kordofan and the Blue Nile. It took over one year to prepare for the launch of the event. The SND has approved a timetable and guidelines for the work of six committees working toward producing a “national document” as an outcome of the conference.

OIC Secretary General Congratulates Tunisia on the Winning of the National Dialogue Quartet with the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize

Representatives of the organizations that were part of the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet (epa)

The Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Iyad Ameen Madani, expressed his warm congratulations to Tunisia on the winning of the four sponsors of the national dialogue (Tunisia’s General Labour Union, Tunisian Confederation of Industry and Trade, the Tunisian Human Rights League, and the Tunisian Order of Lawyers) with the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize. The recognition was an appreciation of the quartet’s role in supporting dialogue and harmony between political parties which enabled Tunisia to achieve peaceful transfer of power and to agree that the state’s civil institutions concentrate on guaranteeing freedom, security, stability and development.

Madani commended the role of the four Nobel Prize-winning Tunisian institutions which adopted a peaceful approach of national dialogue to confront the political crises and find consensual solutions that would guarantee unity and stability as a model that can be used to resolve existing crises in some OIC Member States.

OIC Secretary General Issues an Urgent Appeal to Save Victims of Hurricane Chapala

The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Iyad Ameen Madani, issued an urgent appeal to Member

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WORLD AFFAIRS States and civil society organizations working in the humanitarian field to provide humanitarian assistance to victims and those affected by Hurricane Chapala in the Republic of Yemen.

Preliminary data obtained by the OIC General Secretariat indicate that the hurricanes caused the displacement of 40,000 people in the Island of Socotra, the destruction of hundreds of homes, flooding of streets, destruction of fishing boats and farms, uprooting of trees, and interrupted Internet and telephone services. Moreover, hurricanes, heavy rains and torrents swept through the provinces of Al-Muhra, Shabwa, Hadhramaut and Mukalla where they wreaked havoc.

The hurricanes worsened the already critical humanitarian situation that the Yemeni people are presently undergoing. Worse still, meteorological reports indicate expected continuation of unstable weather conditions with more hurricanes, heavy rains and floods to strike affected areas.

Enthusiastic Participation in Presidential Elections in Guinea

The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Iyad Ameen Madani, called on political parties in Guinea to avoid anything that would lead to unrest in the country following the independent Election Commission announcing on 17 October 2015 interim results of the presidential election held on October 11 in the country. He also urged all candidates, as men of state, to prioritize the supreme interests of the nation.

The Secretary General praised the enthusiastic participation of all Guineans in the electoral process in an atmosphere marked by calmness, inviting them at the same time to continue maintaining

A woman from Guinea casts her ballot in the presidential elections in Conakry, Guinea, 11 October 2015 (epa)

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peace and national unity. The Secretary General also urged any aggrieved candidate to seek redress through legal and constitutional means. He ended his appeal by confirming OIC’s support for Guinea in its efforts to promote peace, democracy and development.

This comes after the Election Commission indicated that President Alpha Condé had been re-elected for a second term after winning about 58 percent of the vote. Opposition candidate Cellou Dalein Diallo, who is also Condé’s main rival, came second receiving about 31 percent.

Diallo had said earlier that he would not recognize the election outcome and would call on his supporters to protest against fraud and forgery. Medical sources reported that a few people had died in election-related clashes.

OIC Supports Democratic Transition in Myanmar, Urges Rights of the Rohingya to be Restored

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation noted the completion of voting in the general elections in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and the landslide majority achieved by the National League for Democracy (NLD) under the leadership of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. OIC Secretary General Iyad Ameen Madani conveyed a message to Suu Kyi, Chairperson of the NLD, on the occasion of her party’s electoral victory in which he expressed hope that “the new government would actively support the process of reconciliation and transformation for all ethnic minorities in Myanmar, including the Rohingya.”

The Secretary General also noted that “the Rohingya have been denied their rights in the name of certain arbitrary laws” and called for “an inclusive and constructive approach that would ensure their rightful recognition and status in light of the new democratic environment in Myanmar.”

The OIC reaffirms its commitment to support the people of Myanmar in the ongoing process of achieving a democratic society with equality and justice for all.

In terms of results, according to media reports, candidates of the NLD came ahead in more than two thirds of electoral districts. The party now has the numbers to choose the country’s president, paving the way for the army to end its decades at the helm of the country and influence within parliament; the army, however, reserves 25 percent of seats in parliament.

Under the constitution, Suu Kyi, who was under house arrest five years ago, cannot become president as her two sons have foreign nationalities. The process of choosing a new president will begin when the new parliament convenes early 2016.

Myanmar›s National League for Democracy (NLD) party›s leader Aung San Suu Kyi (epa)

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WORLD AFFAIRS OIC Reactions against Terrorism across the World

Tthe damage at the site of a twin suicide attack in the Bourj al-Barajneh suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, 13 November 2015 (epa)

During the last quarter of 2015, the OIC General Secretariat issued numerous condemnations and statements following acts of terrorism and violence across the world, both within Muslim and non-Muslim countries.

In its condemnations, the OIC called for an end to terrorism which was described as being contrary to principles of humanity and a serious threat to international peace and security. The OIC also made clear that it stands firmly against terrorism in all its forms and that it would continue cooperating with the international community to fight the problem and address its causes.

Among the more prominent acts of terrorism during that period was the bombing that took place on 6 August 2015 at an Emergency Forces Mosque in Abha, Saudi Arabia, in which scores of innocent people were killed and wounded.

OIC Secretary General Iyad Ameen Madani said the bombing was aimed at destabilizing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and terrorizing its people. He added that violating the sanctity of life and targeting a house of worship are criminal acts that can only be carried out by people devoid of any religious, ethical or human values. Madani reiterated the OIC’s support and backing for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in all of the measures it takes to preserve the security and stability of the entire country. The OIC also condemned the terrorist attack on 16 October 2015 in the Shiite city of Seihat in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia which led to five people dying and nine

injured.

On 10 August 2015, Istanbul and other places in the Republic of Turkey were faced with a series of terrorist attacks. The SecretaryGeneral expressed hope that the perpetrators would be identified and brought to justice. He also reiterated the position of the OIC in relation to all types of terrorism and urged the international community to remain steadfast in the fight against the problem.

The OIC also severely condemned the two terrorist bombings that occurred on 10 October 2015 in the capital of Turkey, Ankara, which resulted in 86 deaths and over 200 inured. It further condemned the murder of a Croatian hostage by a terrorist group affiliated to Daesh in Egypt on 12 August 2015. The Secretary-General expressed his condolences to the family of Tomislav Salopel, the people of Croatia and its government. Madani said that killing a 30-year-old civilian working in the oil and gas sector is contrary to all human values regarding the sanctity of life and protecting the innocent.

On 13 August 2015, the OIC strongly condemned a series of terrorist attacks in different parts of Afghanistan, including Kabul, in which dozens of people were killed and many wounded. Likewise, the OIC also strongly condemned the terrorist bombing in Karrana, Bahrain, on 28 August 2015, in which a security man was killed and 17 people, including a child, were wounded.

The OIC also expressed its strong condemnation of the terrorist bombings that occurred on 12 November 2015 in the Burj Al-Barajneh district of the Lebanese capital Beirut, which resulted in dozens of civilians dead and many injured. The Secretary-General described the bombings as acts of terror which aim to compromise the security and stability of Lebanon and terrorize people who are innocent and seeking peace.

The Secretary-General further condemned the terrorist attacks that took place in the French capital of Paris on 13 November 2015, claiming a large number of lives and injuring many people. The Secretary-General, in the strongest terms, rejected these acts of terrorism, which affect people’s right to live and undermine global humanity, including freedom and equality which he said have been enhanced by the values ​​of France.

The OIC also strongly condemned the suicide terrorist attacks that occurred on 17-18 November 2015 in the northern Nigerian cities of Yola and Kano, which resulted in 50 deaths and 123 people injured. The Secretary-General described the attacks—carried out

by Boko Haram, which uses children as suicide bombers, including girls, to target markets and other public places—as extremism.

OIC Secretary General Congratulates

Ivory Coast for Successful Presidential Elections Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Iyad Ameen Madani congratulated the people of the Ivory Coast Republic for successful presidential elections that were held on Sunday 25 October 2015 under the supervision and control of the Independent Electoral Commission and international observers and

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international and regional organizations, including the OIC. Madani called on the Ivory Coast people to continue practicing democracy to usher development, peace, security, national reconciliation and good governance into the country.

Alassane Ouattara won a second term over

his closest rival Pascal Affi N’Guessan. The incumbent president was first elected in 2010 preceding the 2010-2011 Ivorian crisis and stood again to seek a second term.

The president of the Ivory Coast is elected with a five-year mandate through a tworound system, with a 50 percent simple majority required to avoid a run-off.

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WORLD AFFAIRS Alfred Nobel’s Enigmatic Legacy

Stockholm DPA Eight years before Alfred Nobel’s death, newspapers mistakenly published his obituary. The press had confused him for his brother Ludvig. However, something very important became clear to the man who invented dynamite and that was that everything that was written regarding him after death was incorrect. The obituary described him as a man who earned his wealth through dynamite and explosives and that it is very difficult to say he did something good for mankind.

The obituary—the story regarding which is narrated by Gustav Källstrand, Director of the Nobel Museum—was very difficult for Nobel to stomach. He was described as a dealer in death, something that was a wakeup call for him.

In spite of this, something else happened which prompted Alfred Nobel on 27 November 1895, 120 years ago, to bequeath his wealth to establish a foundation that would offer the most famous awards in the world and which would carry his name. Behind this was a woman called Bertha von Suttner.

Nobel and peace activist Bertha von Suttner were close. However, the inventor of dynamite wanted more than friendship. Von Suttner, for some time, was Nobel s personal secretary. Lars-Åke Skagegård writes in Nobel’s biography that she was a woman that he had been searching for a very long time.

ble purposes; this was because his family’s economic situation was comfortable and Nobel believed that inherited wealth made people lazy. Instead, he wanted to distinguish people who contributed to benefitting humanity through their ideas. Nevertheless, people cannot say for sure whether Nobel had envisioned the legacy his will would leave today, especially since some of his relatives challenged him in court at the time.

Källstrand said some say that they were just greedy, while others say that they were sincerely concerned about Nobel s estate. He added that Nobel did not like lawyers, which is why he did not use a lawyer to write his will.

Nobel decreed that the prizes should be awarded in five categories to those who had brought the greatest benefit to humanity in the past year. He, however, did not specify those areas, which left the executors of his will with a huge task. The institutions that he entrusted with the award of prizes were left surprised. They had no idea what was going on and were a bit nervous, says Källstrand.

Some hesitated to take on the task because they did not know whether they would be able to carry the responsibility, or because of the fear of the criticism of the international press which could lead to harming Sweden and Norway’s reputation. In addition to that, a lot of Swedes were unhappy for Norwegians to be responsible for handing out Nobel Peace Prizes.

A long time passed until all of the difficulties were resolved and the awards were distributed for the first time five years after Nobel’s death; the award is still governed by the same rules today.

On 5 October 2015, a Nobel Prize for Medicine was announced and which was co-won by Japanese scientist Satoshi Omura, Irish scientist William Campbell and Chinese scientist Youyou Tu in recognition of their achievements in the field of parasitic diseases.

Skagegård writes that she was the one who encouraged him to donate a portion of his fortune to a number of different peace movements. Because of this, following her inspiration, Nobel would talk about plans to establish a Peace Prize because, according to the more famous narrations, the common use of his invention, dynamite, had left him depressed.

Skagegård does not believe von Suttner and Nobel discussed establishing a prize. He, however, believes that Nobel had previously entertained the idea of ​​donating money for knowledge or charita-

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WORLD AFFAIRS OIC Secretary General Congratulates Egypt and Senegal on their Membership Election into the UNSC Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Iyad Ameen Madani congratulated the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Republic of Senegal for their well-deserved election as non-permanent members of the United Nations’ Security Council (UNSC) for the period 2016-2017.

Madani said he is convinced that the two countries, which are also founding members of the OIC, will play an active role in defending the ideals of the UN which seeks to promote global harmony, peace and security.

The Secretary General assured the two OIC Member States of the OIC’s full cooperation during their mandate to champion just Muslim causes around the world. The 193-member General Assembly

elected Egypt with 179 votes in favor and Senegal with 187; they will start serving the UNSC as new non-permanent members starting January 2016.

Libyan Sides Reach Tentative Agreement for Political Solution to Crisis Plaguing Country Representatives of the Libyan parliament reached a tentative agreement to resolve the political crisis plaguing the country.

At a meeting in Tunisia on 11 December 2015, representatives of the internationally recognized parliament based in Tobruk signed a declaration of principles with representatives of the General National Congress (GNC) that is based in Tripoli. The agreement was described as historic.

Awad Mohammed Abdul-Sadiq, the first deputy head of the GNC, said, “If this solution receives real Libyan support—from the people and institutions—we will surely arrive in no more than two weeks or a month to a solution to solve the political crisis.”

Amna Emtair from the GNC said that the agreement calls for the formation of a panel of representatives to nominate a prime minister within 15 days while the other panel will review the Libyan constitution.

The agreement is intended to lead to the formation of a unified government and holding of elections within two years; Libya slipped into constant fighting among armed factions after the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi.

Though this agreement has nothing to do with mediation efforts undertaken by the UN in Libya, UN Envoy to Libya Martin Kobler said that the agreement is a good basis to move forward.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) welcomed the agreement by delegations of the House of Representatives and the GNC on principles to end the conflict in Libya that was signed in Tunisia on 6 December 2015.

OIC Secretary General Iyad Ameen Madani appealed to all Libyan parties to adopt the agreement which he said forms a basis for a political solution and the commencement of the process of building constitutional institutions for the Libyan state on the basis of democracy, justice and equality, and for warding off the dangers of terrorism which threatens the unity, security and stability of Libya.

Madani renewed the readiness of the OIC to contribute to international and regional efforts aimed at ending the suffering of the Libyan people and responding to their aspirations for reconciliation and security within a united nation.

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A Libyan mayor, Ali Hocine (2 - R) signs documents after a meeting with UN envoy for Libya, Martin Kobler (back - C), and representatives of Libyan municipalities and municipal council in Tunis, 21 December 2015 (epa)

The OIC also expressed support for the agreement signed by the Libyan parties in Skhirat, Morocco, to form a government of national unity under the auspices of the UN on December 17, 2015.

The Secretary General welcomed the agreement of the Libyan parties, expressing hope that this would contribute to security and stability in Libya and the re-building of constitutional institutions based on the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Libya. He also praised the efforts of the UN and Morocco which made it possible to reach a national unity government agreement in the country.

Madani stressed the need for all Libyan parties to join the agreement, calling all stakeholders to apply its provisions towards the unification of efforts to combat the threat of terrorism and support reconstruction and sustainable development in the country.

After the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, many armed factions in Libya came to the fore, plunging the country into conflict and fighting.

In August 2014, a coalition of armed factions, including Islamists, took control of the Libyan capital Tripoli, government buildings and the parliament, which led to the parliament and internationallyrecognized government fleeing to the east of the country. Libya has also recently seen the appearance of Daesh, which dominates the city of Sirte.

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WORLD AFFAIRS Successful Parliamentary Elections in Azerbaijan The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) congratulated the government and people of the Republic of Azerbaijan for successful parliamentary elections held in the country on 1 November 2015.

OIC Secretary General Iyad Ameen Madani expressed his satisfaction over the peaceful and orderly conduct of the election and said that the large turnout of voters indicated their desire for strengthening and contributing to the consolidation of democracy and good governance in Azerbaijan.

The Secretary General further commended the government and people of the Republic of Azerbaijan for conducting a well organized and successful election.

The Secretary General had dispatched a team of observers to monitor the parliamentary election in Azerbaijan following an invitation received from Azerbaijan’s government and in accordance of the provisions of the OIC Charter on promoting democracy and good governance in OIC countries.

The result was a victory for the ruling New Azerbaijan Party, which won 70 of the 125 seats in the National Assembly amidst an opposition boycott.

The 125 members of the National Assembly were elected in single-member constituencies using the first-past-the-post system.

AKP Wins General Parliamentary Elections in Turkey

Officials count votes after the close of voting in Turkey, 1 November 2015 (epa)

Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Iyad Ameen Madani congratulated the government and people of the Republic of Turkey on the success of the general parliamentary elections held on 1 November 2015, under the supervision of the High Elections Commission of Turkey and with the participation of international observers which included the OIC.

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The OIC observers visited several polling stations in Istanbul and monitored the voting process there. They noted the large turnout of voters in an atmosphere that was calm, free, transparent and peaceful, which demonstrated the people’s interest in the future of their country and their keenness to contribute to and strengthen democratic institutions.

OIC Journal September - December 2015

The Secretary General commended the sense of responsibility of Turkish citizens during these early general parliamentary elections, which was won by the Justice and Development Party (AKP). He also expressed his appreciation of the Turkish authorities for their responsible conduct in these elections.

The election resulted in the AKP regaining a Parliamentary majority following a shock victory, having lost it five months earlier in the June 2015 general election, enabling it to form a government alone without the need to enter into a coalition with other parties.

With the completion of counting, the AKP won 316 seats, far more than the 276 required to form a government. However, the number of seats won is short of the 14 seats needed to call a referendum on changing the Constitution.

On the other hand, the Republican People’s Party won the opposition with 25.4 percent of the vote, while the pro-Kurdish Peoples Democratic Party was also able to overcome the 10 percent threshold required for seats in parliament. Representatives of the National Movement party will also be in parliament.

It should be noted that attempts to form a coalition government in the wake of parliamentary elections in June 2015 were unsuccessful.

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WORLD AFFAIRS OIC, Philippine Government and MNLF Peace Talks Agree on Agenda for Ministerial Meeting

OIC Special Envoy for Philippines Amb. Qasim El-Masry

The two-day Preparatory Tripartite Peace Process convened on 7-8 September 2015 in Manila, Philippines between the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Government of Philippines and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) concluded having agreed on the agenda and substantive issues to be deliberated at the next Tripartite Ministerial Meeting due be held in Jeddah in November 2015.

The OIC has maintained its commitment to the Tripartite Review since its establishment in 2007, which has led to the establishment of essential processes to address the needs of

the Bangsamoro people. During the Preparatory Tripartite meeting the parties were able to reactivate discussions on the Bangsamoro Development Assistant Fund (BDAF), which addresses the socio-economic needs of the Bangsamoro People; the Tripartite Monitoring Committee (TIMC), which is a process to ensure implementation of agreements reached during the tripartite review; and the Co-management of Strategic Minerals, which will be undertaken with consultations of relevant departments of the Philippine Government departments.

The meeting was also briefed on the current status of the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) in the Congress by the representative of the Government of Philippines and held discussions on the mechanism to bring the two peace tracks together. The ultimate goal of the Tripartite meeting is to set the path for the implementations of the previous peace agreements of Tripoli Peace Agreement of 1976 and 1996 Final Peace Agreement.

During the preparatory Tripartite meeting the parties agreed on a number of common issues. In regards to the Bangsamoro Development Assistance Fund (BDAF), the meeting agreed to revisit the agreement and

understanding on the implementation of the (BDAF). The parties also agreed to follow-up with the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) on the Terms of Reference (TOR) of the BDAF. The meeting also agreed to revisit the agreement on the Tripartite Implementation and Monitoring Committee (TIMC).

According to the proposed Terms of Reference the TIMC is to meet and monitor the implementation of all the agreements of the Tripartite Implementation Process. It was deiced to refer this issue to the Ministerial level.

On issue of Co-Management of Strategic Minerals, the meeting agreed to look into the Interim Agreement on Co-management, which was signed in a document during the 2nd Ad Hoc High Level Group Meeting on March 1-2, 2012. The two parties, (GPH and the MNLF) committed to work with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) on the current status of the arrangement regarding the implementation of the Interim Agreement and submit recommendations on how to strengthen the same. The meeting also agreed to examine the provisions of the BBL relevant to co-management.

OIC Participates in NATO Seminar A delegation from the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) participated as observer in the seminar jointly organized by the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and the Mediterranean and Middle East Special Group (GSM), which was held in Florence, Italy, on 26- 28 November 2015.

The seminar was opened by the Mayor of Florence, Dario Nardella, with introductory speeches by the President of the Italian Senate, Mr. Pietro Grasso, and the head of the

Italian delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Andrea Manciulli.

During the interactive debate on the report presented on the fight against Daesh, Mrs. Aissata Kane, Acting Permanent Representative of the OIC Mission to the EU in Brussels, expressed OIC’s commitment to the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.

She underscored the importance of the OIC’s initiative regarding the establishment of the Messaging Center, which could contribute

effectively to the fight against the flawed speech transmitted by terrorist groups, as a response within the coordinated fight to win the Media war used perilously by Daesh to recruit young people through social networks.

The seminar also addressed issues relating to the refugee crisis, financing of terrorism and the development of relations between Europe and the Middle East.

OIC Mission to the EU Delivers Speech at One-day Conference on Somali Refugees A one-day conference on the voluntary return of Somali refugees to their homeland took place on October 21 in Brussels. The event was jointly organized by the European Union (EU) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

International organizations working in Somalia, government representatives, intergovernmental organizations, members of civil soci-

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ety as well as journalists attended the event, entitled “Ministerial Pledging Conference on Somali Refugees.”

The event was held to mobilize international commitment and financial support for the program of voluntary return of Somali refugees to their homeland. The program is being led by the UNHCR and the governments of Somalia and Kenya.

Mrs. Aissata Kane, Acting Permanent Representative of the OIC Mission to the EU in Brussels, attended the conference on behalf of the OIC. Kane spoke about the OIC’s ongoing humanitarian and development programs to alleviate the sufferings of Somali refugees and allow their safe and dignified return to their country.

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WORLD AFFAIRS OIC Welcomes the Results of Vienna Talks on the Syrian Crisis

US Secretary of State John Kerry (C) and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (C-R) head an international conference on Syria at the Hotel Imperial in Vienna, Austria, 30 October 2015 (epa)

The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Iyad Ameen Madani, welcomed the joint statement issued after talks in Vienna on Syria held on 30 October 2015 and indicated that this was a positive step in the right direction towards resolving the Syrian crisis.

Madani underscored the importance of the joint statement, which inter alia reaffirmed the importance of the territorial integrity of Syria as well as of continued diplomatic efforts to end the ongoing war.

The Secretary General reiterated the OIC’s constant support for the demands of the Syrian people for freedom, justice and equality, emphasizing the OIC’s backing for all initiatives to reach a political solution to the crisis.

He also welcomed the UN’s call to invite all of Syria’s parties to engage in a political process that would lead to a new constitution and elections administered under the UN’s supervision and a formula that would allow a ceasefire on the ground.

Madani reiterated the OIC’s condemnation of all criminal acts perpetrated by

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Daesh and similar terrorist organizations in Syria and reaffirmed the need to protect the country against terrorism and its destructive repercussions to ensure stability in the whole region.

Madani hopes that the differences among the participants of the Vienna Talks would be narrowed down during the next round.

He also called for the international community to take all necessary measures to translate the agreed items into a plan of action that would speed up the alleviation of the suffering of the Syrian people.

In this context, the OIC Secretary General underscored the need for giving greater attention to the issue of Syrian refugees all over the world, and the necessity of intensifying humanitarian action in this regard to lift the suffering of Syrians.

The Secretary General commended the efforts of OIC Member States participating in the Vienna meeting, and called on these countries to adopt more coordinated positions to secure a solution for the Syrian crisis that is in line with the consensus of regional countries.

OIC Journal September - December 2015

On the other hand, the OIC called on the Syrian opposition to reach an agreement during their meeting in Riyadh. The OIC called on all Syrian opposition parties to use the occasion of the meeting, which was hosted by Saudi Arabia in December, to agree on a plan of action and compromise that represents a unified position of all components and factions of the Syrian opposition.

Madani appealed to Syrian opposition leaders to unite and make legitimate the demands of the Syrian people for change and reform and the rebuilding of Syrian state institutions on the basis of democracy, justice and national unity, which are fundamental objectives of the course of the political settlements in the framework of the application of Geneva 1 Statement.

He also renewed support and assistance to all international and regional efforts to find a political solution to the Syrian crisis and end the suffering of the Syrian people.

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HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS Syrian Refugees in Jordan: Below the Poverty Line,

No Past, Difficult Present, Uncertain Future

Zaatari refugee camp (Jordan) (DPA): Despite their young age, Hassan and Osama (13 and 14 years) must provide for their families. Hassan works in a tailor shop in while Osama works in a coffee shop. Back in Syria, their lives were completely different. They used to spend the day in school. Their parents ran a car agency. However, the situation changed now and forced the parents to depend on their children to earn a living.

It is easy for the juveniles to find a job, despite the fact that Osama was forced several days back to flee from the cafe because of an inspection campaign carried out by the authorities that prohibit child labor. His mother indicated that he earns between six to seven dollars a day, which are not enough to pay for expenses or rent of a house.

Of course, such children cannot afford the hefty expenses of immigration to Europe imposed by illegal immigration mafia gangs, which may reach three thousand euros. “I cannot endanger the life of my son,” Osama’s mother said in spite of her quest to get the paperwork required to obtain asylum in Europe.

The Faqihs fled Syria without taking anything with them. After the warplanes of Bashar’s regime bombed the house of their neighbors and killed all of them, the Faqihs fled from their town to the Jordanian borders.

That happened in 2012, and international relief organizations and the Jordanian army received them along with thousands who fled the city of Daraa from which the Syrian Revolution in 2011 sparked and which remains under siege until now. UNRWA registered the family and housed it with other refugees at the Zaatari camp, which accommodates 150 thousand people, making it the second largest refugee camp in the world. Currently, it has about 80 thousand Syrians, while its director, Hovig Etyemezian, stressed that the situation has deteriorated and it is no longer possible to provide services as in the past.

With the influx of Syrian refugees, Jordan was forced to set up the first camp to house them in the summer of 2012. The camp population suffered from very difficult conditions: temperatures drop to below freezing in the winter, exceed fifty in the summer, with a severe shortage of services, while tents do not protect against cold or heat. Now, more than 80 percent of total 628 thousand refugees who entered Jordan, had to leave the camp because of the difficult conditions.

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The Faqihs stress that “all what we want is to restore normal life again and nothing more”, but they realize how difficult the situation is. With strict conditions to get work and limited opportunities, obtaining a work permit requires fees ranging between 200 and 300 euros. On the other hand, those in charge of the camp decided to reduce food rations because of lack of resources.

Those few of them, who succeeded in saving some money, decided to make the adventure to cross the sea to Europe. Now, there are about four million Syrian refugees in Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey, and the longer they remain in these wretched conditions, the further the humanitarian situation deteriorates.

According to Etyemezian, Syrian refugees are forced to return to AlAzraq camp, which opened in Jordan in 2014, while others return to Syria, especially those from the south where the situation calmed down relatively in their areas.

In conjunction with the displacement of millions of Syrians because of the violence of the conflict, the violence of Daash, which occupied large areas of Iraq, forced hundreds of thousands of Iraqis to flee. Fadi still gets chills while remembering how he fled with his family from the city of Mosul. “They gave us an ultimatum: either give up our religion, flee, or face slaughter,” said Fadi. During the trip to escape with his sister, the militias robbed them of USD 70 thousand dollars in cash.

From living well to suffering abysmally, Fadi lives in Jordan with 70 people in one of the churches and earns about 200 euros a week working as an illegal street vendor. The hands of the Iraqi refugee tremble when he speaks about his only hope: to get an application for asylum. He has already begun the procedures for obtaining it.

“I applied for asylum applications in 2007, when sectarian conflicts that swept Iraq after the invasion began, and have already got a residence in the United States. However, my father suffered from cancer, so we returned and my father died in 2013”.

Daash seized the home of Fadi›s family while the house of the Faqihs turned to a dust pile in Syria because of shelling. The past no longer exists; the present is difficult, while the future in terms of near end of the conflict is unforeseeable.

Refugees seek to improve their situation, but without a chance of getting out of Jordan they have no option but to wait, hoping that Europe makes up its mind about the refugee quota distributed to EU countries.

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OIC NEWS Asian Tour to Bangladesh, Azerbaijan, Pakistan and Indonesia The Secretary General of the OIC, Mr. Iyad Ameen Madani, toured some Asian member states of the OIC during the period 23 to 30 August 2015. On the first leg of his Asian working tour, the Secretary General went to Bangladesh where he met on 23 August 2015 with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

H.E. Hasina commended the fresh impetus generated by a string of initiatives set in motion by the OIC General Secretariat. The two sides concurred on the pressing need for an OIC-owned conflict-resolution and counterterrorism mechanism within the Islamic spirit of solidarity and unity of purpose. During the visit, the Secretary General also met with the Foreign Minister, H.E. Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, and conducted a tour of the Dhaka-based International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B), a health research organization dedicated to improving neonatal survival and combating HIV/AIDS. Madani discussed with the senior officials of ICDDR,B the best ways of fostering bilateral collaboration between the Center and OIC institutions.

On the second leg of his consultations with some Asian Member States, the Secretary General held on 25 August 2015 in Baku, a meeting with the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan, H.E. Elmar Mam-

madyarov. Discussions between Madani and Mammadyarov revolved around the need to boost OIC solidarity to cope with the daunting challenges faced by the Member States.

They exchanged views on the priorities and activities of the Organization. Madani reaffirmed the OIC’s support for the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan. In a similar vein, the Secretary General and the Azerbaijani Foreign Minister expressed concern over the misrepresentation of Islam and Muslims in many parts of the world and explored the ways of coping effectively with the pressing issue of Islamophobia.

The Secretary General then headed to Pakistan where he was received by the National Security and Foreign Affairs Advisor of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, H.E. Sartaj Aziz, at the latter’s Office on 26 August 2015.

Madani briefed the Advisor on the steps taken by the General Secretariat for the implementation of some key resolutions adopted at both the ministerial and summit levels.

Mutual concerns of regional significance were also on the agenda of their discussion.

Issues related to conflict resolution in the Member States and combating terrorism at both national and international levels were

discussed at length. Advisor Aziz underlined that resolution of protracted conflicts would have a positive impact on countering the spread of terrorism and violent extremism.

Finding a just solution for Jammu and Kashmir dispute was highlighted as among the top priorities of the Organization.

On the last leg of his working tour to a number of Asian member countries of the OIC, the Secretary General held, on 28 August 2015 in Jakarta, bilateral consultations with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, H.E. Retno Lestari Priansari Marsudi. Madani briefed the Foreign Minister on the latest developments unfolding at the level of the OIC. He sought Indonesia’s support for the OIC collective endeavors.

The plight of Muslim Rohingya refugees of Myanmar, the OIC-2025 Plan of Action, and the OIC’s structured approach to conflict resolution were also at the center of discussions. Foreign Minister Marsudi, for her part, expressed Indonesia’s consistent engagement with and support for OIC activities. She reiterated her country’s keen interest in establishing an OIC Contact Group to tackle strategic challenges confronting the Muslim word.

President of Indonesia and Sultan of Brunei Receive the OIC Secretary General Sultan of Brunei

President of Indonesia

The President of the Republic of Indonesia, HE Mr. Joko Widodo, who was on an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, received the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Mr. Iyad Ameen Madani and his accompanying delegation at his place of residence in Jeddah on 12 September 2015.

The Secretary General commended President Jokowi on his leadership and the active role of Indonesia in supporting OIC initiatives and programs. Madani briefed the President on some of the major issues of concern to the OIC including regional issues, the plight of the Rohingya and Islamophobia. The

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President of Indonesia, on his part expressed support for the OIC and its various activities, and discussed an initiative to form a contact group on communicating the values of Islam as Deen Al Rahmah. The President reiterated that Indonesia would also continue to play active role in the Muslim world.

On the other hand, the Secretary General paid a two-day official visit to the Sultanate of Brunei Darrusalam from October 3031, 2015. Mr. Madani was accompanied by the OIC Special Envoy for Myanmar, Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar and a delegation from the OIC General Secretariat. The Secretary General held a meeting with His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam in the Istana Nurul Iman Palace, the official residence of the Sultan and the seat of the Brunei government.

During discussions the two sides reviewed key developments in the region and discussed ways to strengthen bilateral coop-

OIC Journal September - December 2015

eration between Brunei and the OIC and its related institutions. Among the issues highlighted by the Secretary General in his discussions were efforts by the OIC to increase urgent humanitarian assistance for boat refugees and other communities in need in the region; the establishment of a centralized body for the issuing of certification for Halal products; and the launch of micro-finance projects that could encourage sustainable, and socio economic development in OIC Member States.

Mr. Madani also held meetings with Pehin Lim Jock Seng, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade as well as with Pehin Suyoi Osman, Minister of Education. In his meetings with the Brunei officials, the Secretary General expressed the need to increase investment in education and training programs to provide, not only employment opportunities, but also to counter the narrative of violent extremism.

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OIC NEWS Arab Tour to Algeria, Kuwait, Oman and UAE On the occasion of his visit to Algeria, his first stop in tour around some Arab Countries, Mr. Iyad Ameen Madani, Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) had an audience on 3 September 2015 with H.E. the President of the Democratic People’s Republic of Algeria, Mr. Abdelaziz Bouteflika. The two parties exchanged views on ways and means to enhance Islamic Solidarity. President Bouteflika affirmed his support for the OIC and its initiatives to advance joint Islamic Action, and urged for an increased interplay to face up to the overwhelming challenges surrounding the Islamic Ummah. The OIC Secretary General also held a fruitful meeting with Mr. Abdelmalek Sellal, Algerian Prime Minister, on issues of common interest, foremost of which the efforts underway within the OIC framework to combat terrorism and violent extremism. Both parties laid stress on the need to better highlight the values of the Islamic faith in terms of justice, moderation and peaceful coexistence. Also, the Secretary General’s discussions with H.E. Ramdan Lamari, Algerian Minister of State and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation focused on boosting bilateral relations between the OIC and Algeria with a view to face up to the massive challenges facing the Islamic World today. In addition, the two parties discussed the regional and international situation and the development in Northern Mali. A particular stress was laid on the need to eschew violence and abide by the Peace and Reconciliation Agreement.

The Secretary General affirmed in this respect, the OIC’s commitment, as a member of the Mediation Team, to back up every effort geared towards establishing peace and stability in Mali.

In Kuwait, Mr. Madani met on 6 September 2015 at Al Seif Palace with H.H. the Prince’s Deputy and Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait, Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmed Al Jaber Al Sabah. The two parties affirmed in their meeting the need for action at all levels to fulfill the aspirations of the Islamic Ummah towards broader expanses of solidarity, unity and a higher level of intra-Islamic cooperation in all fields and to collectively face up to the overwhelming challenges surrounding the Islamic Ummah at this critical juncture.

On the other hand, the Secretary General had an audience with His Highness the First Deputy of the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait, H.E. Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al Ahmed Al Sabah, at his office in the Foreign Ministry’s quarters.

During the meeting, the Secretary General extended a broad overview to H.E. the Minister on the OIC’s efforts in following up the implementation of the resolutions issued by the Council of Foreign Minister (CFM) at its latest session held in Kuwait, last May. He also expressed his appreciation to Kuwait’s chairmanship of the current session of the CFM for its judicious steering of joint Islamic action and its gracious support for all the OIC’s activities.

Then, the Secretary General conducted an official visit to the Sultanate of Oman on 7 September 2015 during which he met with H.E. Mr. Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, Minister in charge of Foreign Affairs, and discussed with him bilateral cooperation between the OIC and the Sultanate as well as ways to advance it at all levels. Bin Alawi laid emphasis on the importance of concerting efforts within the OIC framework in order to promote interaction among the Muslim peoples in all spheres. On his part, Mr. Madani

President of Algeria

Foreign Minister of UAE

paid tribute to the Sultanate of Oman for its pivotal role in the promotion of Islamic solidarity and for its sustained assistance to the OIC. The two parties also discussed the current challenges facing the Islamic Ummah and the role of the OIC and its Member States in addressing them. The two parties underlined the need for increased efforts in support of joint Islamic Action in the fields of economic, social, cultural, humanitarian and science and technology affairs.

On the last stop of his Arab tour, OIC Secretary General concludes an official visit to the United Arab Emirates on September 8, 2015 where he met His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Foreign Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Madani conveyed to H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan the OIC condolences for the UAE martyrs, members of the Arab Coalition forces. H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan asserted the UAE support to the OIC efforts in promoting Islamic solidarity and joint Islamic action in all areas, pointing to the importance of concerted efforts to address the current challenges facing the Muslim World.

Deputy Foreign Minister of Kosovo and European Union Special Representative for the Horn of Africa Visit OIC The Secretary General of the OIC, Mr. Iyad Ameen Madani, received on 13 September 2015, received, H. E. Mr. Petrit Selimi, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Kosovo at the General Secretariat. The Minister shared his views on current issues and the role of Kosovo in ensuring peace and stability in the Balkan region. He projected a detailed scenario of international support for Kosovo, its membership in different in-

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ternational and regional organizations. On his part, Mr. Madani commended the role of Kosovo in ensuring lasting peace in the Balkan. He assured the Minister of OIC’s full support and cooperation to Kosovo in its endeavor to garner more support for Kosovo.

The Secretary General also received on 30 November 2015 Mr. Alexander Rondos, the European Union Representative for the Horn of Africa. Mr. Rondos was accompanied in

the visit by Ambassador Adam Kulack, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other officials from the European Union. Mr. Madani and the EU representatives discussed during the meeting the OIC-EU joint efforts in combating terrorism and violent extremism. The two sides restated their commitment for a better coordination and cooperation in that regards.

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OIC NEWS OIC Institutions to Intensify Joint Work in Extreme Violence, Sectarianism and Islamophobia OIC institutions agreed to increase joint collaboration and formulate a plan to counter extreme violence, sectarianism and Islamophobia at a high level meeting held at the General Secretariat in Jeddah on Tuesday, August 11, 2015.

The meeting included a discussion on the OIC’s strategy, the root causes of terrorism and violent extremism, delegitimizing terrorist ideology, inspiring young Muslims to become the driving force against the problem, countering the terrorist narrative using online and social media, and coordinating the work of OIC institutions in light of the OIC’s Charter, Conventions and Resolutions.

In a speech delivered at the opening of the meeting, OIC Secretary General Iyad Ameen Madani spoke about terrorism and violent extremism in the Muslim world. “We have to deconstruct extremist rhetoric. Most of this rhetoric is done through the framework of Islam and everything is being done in the name of Islam. Therefore, we have to challenge this. For us to fight against this phenomenon we have to fight against this rhetoric,” he said.

Madani also spoke out against the concept of Takfir (declaring Muslims out of the fold of Islam) and inter-Muslim sectarian infighting, and said that the OIC intends to hold workshops to address these problems.

He also expounded on the OIC’s commitment to tackle the problem in resolutions adopted by OIC Summits and Council of Foreign Ministers meetings, and said that the OIC is planning an expert meeting of jurists and legal experts and that work is underway to develop a strategy to deal with sectarianism.

President of the IDB Dr. Ahmad Mohammad Ali said terrorism is not just threatening the Muslim world, but the entire international community. He also said that the IDB, as the OIC’s development arm, is committed to combating terrorism and radicalization which threaten economic achievement and development.

The IDB president also said that there is a need for OIC Member States to ensure joint Islamic action and called on the international community to spare no effort in addressing root causes of terrorism and to be impartial when dealing with the Islamic world.

Presentations were delivered by the Research Center For Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA), the International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA), the Statistical, Economic And Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC), the Islamic Solidarity Fund (ISF), the Islamic University of Uganda (IUU), the Islamic University of Technology (IUT) of Bangladesh, the Islamic Solidarity Sports Federation (ISSF), the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), the International Forum for Moderation, the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) and the International Islamic News Agency (IINA).

Towards the conclusion of meeting, the Heads of Departments of the OIC General Secretariat offered suggestions and emphasized the need to increase coordination among OIC institutions to avoid duplicating work and achieve mandate requirements and the general expectations of the international community, create awareness among policymakers on the seriousness and importance of the subject, and mobilize the scattered resources of Member States.

Board of Trustees Meeting of the American Islamic College Agree on Strategic Plan The OIC Secretary General, Mr. Iyad Ameen Madani, paid a visit to American Islamic College (AIC) in Chicago, USA on 5 October 2015. The Secretary General chaired a meeting of the Board of Trustees (BoT) which reviewed the administrative, academic and financial aspects of the College. During the BoT meeting, decisions were taken regarding the establishment of waqf property, development of AIC strategic plan and recruitment of new faculty. The BoT expressed satisfaction over the gradual expansion of

the College’s faculties and intake of new students in various disciplines. It is worth noting that the Illinois Board of Higher Education has granted the College degree granting authority in three of its programs: BA and MA in Islamic Studies and Master of Divinity in Islamic Studies.

Later, the President of AIC hosted a reception in honor of the OIC Secretary General, which was attended by teachers, students, parents, community leaders and academicians from other universities. Speaking on

the occasion, the Secretary General said that he would like to see the AIC to be a source of learning that would inspire and prepare students for future leadership roles in the American society equipped with the best of Islamic values beneficial to humanity.

He expressed the hope that with the active support of all the stakeholders, AIC would evolve into a center of excellence attracting scholars to carry out research in Islamic jurisprudence, arts and culture.

The Secretary General Meets President of Chad and President of Guyana President of the Republic Chad, HE Mr. Idriss Deby Itno, who was on an official visit to Saudi Arabia, received the OIC Secretary General, Mr. Iyad Ameen Madani and the accompanying delegation in Jeddah on 3 November 2015.

Mr. Madani commended the leadership of President Deby and the role of Chad in supporting initiatives of the OIC and its programs. The President explained the efforts and challenges facing his government to eradicate the terrorist group Boko Haram

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which targets young people. He added that defeating Boko Haram cannot be done by weapons alone but requires special attention to development projects that can absorb the energy of the youth.

The Secretary General also met on November 11, 2015, in Riyadh, with the President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, Mr. David Arthur Granger. During the meeting, the Secretary General outlined the OIC’s endeavors with regard to political, cultural and social affairs, as well as its interest in the is-

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sues of women and children along with the economic aspects especially of micro-financing. He noted that a number of upcoming OIC conferences are meant to address these issues and expressed his hope that the Republic of Guyana will be among the effective participants in the OIC activities.

On his part, the President of Guyana expressed his belief that their meeting will open up new horizons for his country’s participation in the OIC’s conferences and meetings.

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VIEWPOINT How the OIC Plans to Win the War of Ideas against Daesh

Mr. Amanul Haq is a Director in the Cabinet of the OIC Secretary General

Fiqh (jurisprudence) happens not to be one of Daesh’s strong suits. A proper exegesis of the Quran and Hadith (the reports of actions and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad) for the purpose of inferring a legal injunction is a complex and considered process.

Daesh diverges from it constantly.

Earlier this year, the New York Times published a story titled “ISIS and the Lonely American” offers some interesting answers to questions, challenging our expectations.

Alex, the subject of the story, made “a new group of friends online,” a cohort described as “the most attentive she ever had.” They were part of the social media presence of Daesh (the more pejorative Arabic term for ISIS) and worked diligently to push her to accept their religion and their ideology — and to join the group in Syria. They told her Islam required it.

But when Alex, who was a recent convert to Islam, found a mosque just miles from her home, her online contacts turned sullen. They strongly dissuaded her from visiting the mosque, insisting American Muslims were “persecuted.” Under no circumstance, they stressed, could she reveal her new Islamic beliefs to other Muslims.

Alex’s experience is similar to many others that Daesh has targeted for recruitment from both within the Muslim world and outside of it. Alex wasn’t radicalized inside of a mosque. She was radicalized because she never went to a mosque.

Her Daesh recruiters tried to keep her from any mainstream, widely accepted expression of Islam because they feared it might thwart their brainwashing attempts.

That’s because mainstream Islamic values and the Daesh worldview simply do not match up.

This is presumably why time and again, both studies and expert opinion demonstrate that those with a strong understanding of Islam are among the most resistant to radicalization.

These facts point to a simple reality that Daesh routinely exploits those with a poor or superficial understanding of Islam can often make good recruiting candidates.

That’s why the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is in the process of launching an anti-extremism messaging center that connects leading Muslim-world religious scholars with the latest social media tools and strategies.

The Center’s first priority is to work to discredit the perceived religious legitimacy that Daesh believes has given it the authority to order and inspire abhorrent acts of violence. If Islam is falsely peddled as the justification for these acts, it must be the Islamic world that corrects this misconception.

To this end, the OIC has partnered with its subsidiary organ the International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA), a body of senior Islamic scholars from across the world specializing in Islamic jurisprudence and knowledge.

As it is, Fiqh (jurisprudence) happens not to be one of Daesh’s strong suits. A proper exegesis of the Quran and Hadith (the reports of actions and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad) for the purpose of inferring a legal injunction is a complex and considered process. Daesh diverges from it constantly.

Connecting such religiously authoritative critiques of Daesh with cutting-edge social media strategies offers real scope to disrupt Daesh’s online messaging. It could discredit their self-portrayal as an authentic, modern-day Caliphate, something that’s central to their appeal in the eyes of impressionable young potential recruits.

But scholarly messages on religion alone are not enough.

The human narrative can also be of invaluable help. Personal accounts and stories of victims of sectarian and terrorist violence are a uniquely powerful tool for hindering the dehumanization of the “other,” making it difficult to color ethnic, religious and sectarian relations in simplistic black-and-white terms.

Perversely, the human narrative is among the most powerful tools in Daesh’s own PR arsenal. Daesh recruitment videos directed at a particular nation often include recruits from the same communities telling their stories in ways that ordinary people can understand and relate to.

Daesh knows the power of humanizing its message. So must any counter-response.

That’s why the OIC messaging center will ensure the defeat of Daesh’s ideology works hand-in-hand with promoting the narratives of the group’s victims, as well as those who have become disillusioned with Daesh or have experienced and witnessed the depravities of the group first-hand. The center will build the capacity of civil society voices on social media as well.

There are other challenges too. Marginalization and disaffection can create ideal conditions for radicalization to occur. This is in part why Daesh’s vision of success is so resonant for some. Wider socio-economic action is undoubtedly needed to address some of these deeper root causes of radicalization. This is all the more reason a better alternative to Daesh’s narrative is needed in any counter-messaging strategy.

That counter-narrative is something the OIC messaging center, in conjunction with the International Islamic Fiqh Academy, will work to formulate and promote.

This article was published in Businessinsider

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HUMAN RIGHTS IPHRC holds 8th Regular Session on Freedom of Expression and Hate Speech

Human Rights of Palestinians, Kashmiris and Central Africa Republic Tops Agenda of IPHRC Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: The OIC Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) held its 8th Regular Session in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia from 21-26 November 2015.

The subject of the session, was “Freedom of Expression and Hate Speech.” The IPHRC addressed all items on the agenda, including human rights violations in Occupied Palestine, civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights in OIC Member Countries, in addition to the specific tasks entrusted to the IPHRC by the Council of Foreign Ministers, such as Islamophobia and incitement to hatred, the negative effects of unilateral economic sanctions on Member States, a permanent mechanism to monitor the human rights situation in Indian-occupied Kashmir, and the human rights situation of Muslim minorities in Myanmar and the Central African Republic.

In her opening remarks, IPHRC Chair Ambassador Ilham Ibrahim reminded that while freedom of expression serves to broaden the democratic space and helps progress multicultural societies towards sustainable development, its irresponsible use can have devastating impact on the wellbeing of targeted individuals and groups such as denial of their fundamental human rights including the right to life and dignity.

She urged the Muslim world and international community to engage in constructive dialogue both from the legal and human rights perspective to bridge the widening perceptional gap on how best to tackle incitement to hatred and hate speech by improvising practical solutions that can be universally applied across different legal regimes.

Iyad Ameen Madani, Secretary General of the OIC, commended the role of the IPHRC in supporting and strengthening the efforts of Member States in promoting and protecting the human rights of their citizens.

Madani dispelled the impression that Islam is against freedom of expression and clarified that the difference between the Islamic and Western discourse is on “contextual” grounds and not on a “conceptual” basis. Both discourses emphasize that freedom of expression is not “absolute” and is subject to “special duties and corresponding responsibilities.”

He added that Islam has always stood for human freedoms and emancipation. However, he said, there are “red lines” on either side

Human rights violations in Indian Occupied Kashmir

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of the divide, which should be respected by all at all times to ensure social cohesion.

The IPHRC discussed the situation of the Rohingya Muslims, “the most persecuted people” in Myanmar. As a follow up to the decision taken during the previous Session, H.E. Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar, OIC Special Envoy to Myanmar, briefed the IPHRC about his eyewitness account of the plight and ongoing human rights violations endured by Rohingya Muslims. He strongly condemned the withdrawal of identity documents (white cards) and the disenfranchisement of the Rohingya that has led to the deprivation of their right to vote. According to him, though the recently concluded elections have generated considerable “euphoria” the rights situation on the ground remains turbulent and fluid as lot of “ifs” and “buts” shall continue to impact the real transition to democracy. Having said that, he stressed the need to continuously engage, both formally and informally, with the present and future dispensation in Myanmar to secure the Muslim community’s interests. He endorsed the idea of holding an interfaith roundtable conference on the subject to depoliticize the rhetoric, promote mutual understating and counter rising Islamophobia in Myanmar, and undertook to facilitate such an event.

The IPHRC also condemned, in the strictest terms, the recent escalation in violence against innocent Palestinians by Israeli security forces and settlers as well as the inhuman extra judicial “shoot to kill” Israeli policy pursued with impunity. The IPHRC also urged OIC Member States to highlight the ongoing atrocities and discriminatory practices perpetrated by Israel at all relevant international human rights forums and seriously consider referring the matter to the International Court of Justice. While welcoming the growing Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, it urged Member States to intensify the boycott network.

During the Session, a comprehensive study titled “Countering Islamophobia: An Unfinished Business” was adopted. The study defines Islamophobia and identifies the prime factors instigating the rise of anti-Muslim sentiments and rhetoric in the West.

Furthermore, the IPHRC discussed initial drafts of three studies: “Rights of Minorities in Islam,” “Right of Women Inheritance in Islamic Sharia” and “Human Trafficking in particular Women and Children.” Revised versions of these studies with comments and suggestions from IPHRC members will be discussed during the 9th Session. The IPHRC also agreed on a list of studies including “Study to Analyze OIC Plan for the Advancement of Women (OPAAW),” “Study to Define the Concepts and Parameters of Right to Development from IPHRC Perspective,” “Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity,” “Promotion and Protection of Human Rights while Countering Terrorism” and “Human Rights and Cultural Diversity.” It also tasked specific commissioners to prepare these with specific timelines.

Likewise, the IPHRC was briefed by the representative of the OIC special envoy on Kashmir on the ongoing human rights violations in Indian Occupied Kashmir. The IPHRC also adopted the operating methods and modalities of the IPHRC Standing Mechanism for monitoring the human rights situation in Indian-Occupied Kashmir.

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HUMAN RIGHTS IPHRC Proposes Creation of Masters Programs

on Human Rights Education and its Inclusion in Curricula Jakarta, Indonesia: The Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) suggested that Member States consider creating a network of universities or recognized academic institutions to conduct Masters courses and diplomas on Human Rights Education (HRE) with a view of promoting moralistic and universal human rights values, with the possibility of the IPHRC providing technical expertise in this regard along with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

This suggestion was made at the IPHRC’s Annual Seminar on “Human Rights Education” held in collaboration with the Government of the Republic of Indonesia in Jakarta on 12-13 October 2015.

The seminar was opened by Her Excellency Retno Lestari Priansari Marsudi, Indonesia’s Foreign Minister, who delivered an opening speech which highlighted the importance of HRE. The symposium brought together members of the IPHRC along with experts from various international organizations such as UNESCO, ISESCO, UNOHCR, as well as representatives of OIC Member and Observer States, including the national human rights institutions in those countries.

The event underlined that HRE has to factor in the concerns and needs of participants, and combine intellectual challenges with the development of skills and shaping of attitudes, which can only be achieved through stakeholders’ active involvement.

It further stressed that HRE is linked with pedagogy, and should be integrated into the national education curricula at all levels starting from elementary to tertiary, and also within human rights training programs for professionals, including teachers, officials and members of judiciary, executive, legislative and law enforcement agencies.

The meeting also recognized that HRE in schools is a process which concerns not only the inclusion of elements of human rights in the curriculum, but also further development of textbooks and teaching methodolo-

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gies, human rights training of teachers and school administrators, as well as fostering learning environments which encourage full development of human personality, mutual respect and learning to live together with appreciation of cultural diversity.

Based on the deliberations and exchange of views among participants, the meeting concluded that comprehension of human rights norms and principles promotes mutual respect for diversity, enhances tolerance and provides a basis for people-centred human, social, cultural and economic development of diverse societies. To that end, it stressed the importance of managing diversity for creating an environment conducive for resolving conflicts among peoples and nations as well as peace-building and sustaining peace.

The event also upheld that based on a common universal value system devoted to protecting human dignity and the development of human personality, HRE should be provided to all persons at all levels enabling all persons “to participate effectively in a free society, promote understanding, tolerance and friendship among all nations, racial, ethnic or religious groups and to further the activities of the United Nations for the maintenance of peace.”

It also acknowledged the positive historical evolution of HRE as a recognized discipline through the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 26), the Convention on the Rights of the Child (Article 29), the OIC Charter and its Ten Year Programme of Action, the Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam, various conventions of the UN and UNESCO that deal with objectives of education, the Vienna Declaration and Program of Action 1993 that brought

the states’ responsibility to ensure HRE, and UN General Assembly Resolutions 49/184, which provided for the UN Decade for Human Rights Education, and 59/113, which established the World Program for Human Rights Education to augment national HRE efforts on specific issues in three consecutive phases.

The event also welcomed the inclusion of the comprehensive goal on education including HRE for the promotion of peaceful and inclusive societies in the recently adopted Sustainable Development Agenda by the UN General Assembly on 27 September 2015.

It also recognized that the need for HRE is unequivocal and emphasized the responsibility of both states and all stakeholders to respect, protect and promote the human rights of all human beings without distinction. Universally-recognized human rights values and democratic principles should be embedded in any education system as part of quality of education.

The seminar also recognized that comprehensive dispensation of HRE can effectively combat the existing ills of extremism, terrorism and violence based on race and in the name of religion as well as promote multicultural, tolerant and progressive societies that are at peace within and without. To that end it underscored the role of religious leaders and the importance of engaging them.

It also highlighted the crucial role of national human rights institutions in influencing the integration of HRE into national action plans through participatory tailoring exercises which reflect international human rights obligations and give appropriate emphasis on monitoring and accountability. It also reinforced the need for governmental and nongovernmental actors to enhance partnership to this end.

It also recognized that intrinsic strength of religion in promoting tolerance, respect for others and good moral behaviour needs to be highlighted and linked to human rights values. To that end, the vital role of religious education (religious schools) was acknowledged. These institutions must also be brought into the mainstream educational fold through formal linkages with the relevant departments and institutions of religious affairs and education.

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ISLAMOPHOBIA OIC NEWS

Growth in

ISLAMOPHOBIA with influx of refugees into Europe Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban unwittingly revealed the inner feelings of Balkan countries, which are predominantly Orthodox Christian, in relation to the hundreds of thousands of Muslims that have been flocking through there on their way to Western Europe.

In statements to the press, Orban refused to allow Muslims to enter his Christian country. “Islam has never been part of Europe, it came to us,” he said, words that reflected his right-wing policy which includes refusing passage to refugees travelling across Eastern Europe.

Orban’s comments came in response to a question that the majority of the refugees were Muslims. “But spiritually, Islam was never part of Europe. It’s the rulebook of another world,” he said, while also hitting out at France and Germany for refusing to countenance “any doubts” over a multicultural society. “We in Hungary decide what we want or don’t want. We don’t want that,” he said.

The mass migration has, along with Hungary’s closing its border with Croatia, caused many challenges in recent times on account of the failure of European Union leaders to reach an agreement limiting the flow of asylum seekers. Caroline van Buren, spokesman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, said that a majority of the migrants were from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Attitudes, however, were different in Western Europe where 84 Church of England bishops wrote to British Prime Minister David Cameron asking him to accept a minimum 50,000 Syrian refugees.

The bishops also mentioned that they would urge churches and dioceses to house the refugees and take care of them.

In any case, the picture has not always been bright. The waves of refugees led to increased tensions in central Europe. In Austria, for example, the far-right Freedom Party—which campaigned on concerns of mass migration—achieved noticeable results in Vienna’s municipal polls. Though it did not win, the party secured some 30 percent of votes while the Social Democrats, which has been running the city since 1945, won around 40 percent, a decrease of nearly 5 percent since the previous election in 2010.

The polls became a personal dispute between the leader of the Freedom Party Heinz-Christian Strache, who called for a fence to be

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OIC Journal September - December 2015

built on Austria’s border to repel refugees, and Mayor of Vienna Michael Häupl who said refugees should be welcomed.

On her part, German Chancellor Angela Merkel rejected the construction of a fence on the southern border of her country to prevent refugees from entering. In the same way, it was not surprising that there were negative sentiments regarding asylum seekers in some Germans after media reports and experts warned of divisions in German society due to Merkel’s welcome policy. This also resulted in the emergence of right-wing movements on the political scene in the country.

Some sections of German society feel bitter at the way the government is welcoming refugees. The right describes the flow of refugees as the Autumn Attack which has now become the slogan of the Alternative for Germany party, a right-wing populist group that almost disappeared from the scene a few months ago due to internal division but has now returned with strength.

According to a poll conducted by the Forsa Institute, the right-wing Alterative for Germany Party had risen in popularity to 7 percent in the whole of Germany, with 9 percent in Bavaria alone and around 13 percent in Saxony.

Alexander Gauland, a leading politician with the Alternative for Germany party, cuts a good figure in public speeches with his subtle play on a Merkel quote. He says, “We don’t want to do it,” instead of, “We can do it.” The party’s base agrees with Gauland, especially in eastern Germany, where it openly advocates anti-immigrant policies and where anti-refugee cries are growing louder. In March 2016, Germany will see state polls in Saxony-Anhalt, RhinelandPalatinate and Baden-Wurttemberg, where the refugee crisis will certainly become a main election issue.

As time progressed, the mood began to change in Germany and an attitude of refusing refugees began to take root to such an extent that 51 percent of Germans surveyed by Forsa expressed concern at the arrival of refugees with opponents of the policy using slogans such as “please flee somewhere else” and “the boat is full.”

Professor Hajo Funke, a specialist in political science, now speaks of

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ISLAMOPHOBIA “everyday mob rule.” He is referring to the city of Meissen in eastern Germany where the line between openly right-wing extremists and the middle-class mainstream is becoming blurred. The domestic intelligence service in the state of Saxony-Anhalt also observed that many people are shedding their shyness towards right-wing extremism.

The government in Berlin is also becoming concerned about such findings. Politicians who warn against the welcome culture are speaking up with Christian Democrat (CDU) parliamentarians of Angela Merkel’s ruling party beginning to turn their backs on their leader. “We are scared of the people,” admits a leading CDU member. He fears enraged Germans.

On 13 October 2015, a closed-door session was held between Merkel’s party leaders, including experts; attendees at the meeting spoke about the fear of the Merkel’s party collapsing due to its refugee policy.

The meeting showed that Merkel was firm in her decision. Timo Lochocki of the think tank German Marshall Fund of the United States argued that despite a dip in the polls for Merkel, the ratings show that the broad majority of Germans are not lured by extremists but maintain a basic trust in her government to manage the migrant wave.

Pegida regains momentum The refugee issue is also linked to the strong return of Pegida (Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the Occident), a German anti-Islamic movement. The group restarted its activities following Merkel’s policy towards refugees. In October 2015, the group celebrated its first anniversary. Pegida’s influence had declined in other German cities and the group was unsuccessful in expanding into Austria, Sweden and Denmark. It, however, was able to reach prominence when the German government announced it would accept hundreds of thousands of refugees. On 7 September, 2015, Pegida rallied some 5,000 people in Dresden, with participants in rallies it organized over the following weeks reaching between 7,500 to 9,000 people.

According to Nele Wissmann of the French Institute for International Relations, Pegida was launched by Lutz Bachmann who had previously been sentenced to jail for armed robbery in Saxony. Wissmann said that on account of Germany’s past, the far-right is still a taboo in the country, adding that the movement, on account of its extremism, would be excluded by those who reject vio-

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A demonstration in support of migrants at Republic Square in Paris, France, 5 September 2015 (epa)

lence and would remain marginal.

She added that at the beginning Pegida was anti-establishment, included a nucleus of right-wing extremists and attracted people who were disillusioned by mainstream parties. She, however, added that the group has since last autumn intensified its rhetoric against refugees.

Right-wing extremists in Germany also stabbed Henriette Reker, a mayoral candidate for the Christian Democratic Union in the German city of Cologne. Reker was seriously wounded along with two other people who were with her. Another three people suffered minor injuries. During the stabbing, the attacker shouted about an “influx of refugees.” Prosecutors confirmed that the attack was politically motivated and that the perpetrator “confessed to having xenophobic motives.”

This came at a time when the International Organization for Migration said that more than 600,000 asylum seekers had arrived in Europe via the Mediterranean Sea in 2015, and that 3,100 of them had either died or were lost. The European Union reached a joint action plan with Turkey to stop the flow of people following a summit of world leaders in Brussels in which the European Union offered to aid Turkey with up to 3 billion Euros with the possibility of facilitating visas for Turkish nationals and reviving talks of joining the bloc in exchange for helping to stem the flow of migrants into Europe.

There, however, remains another facet to this issue. Immigrants were shot dead by Bulgarian border guards during a fracas when border guards tried to arrest nearly 40

illegal immigrants attempting to cross into Bulgaria from Turkey. The migrants were men believed to be from Afghanistan; some were reported to be armed.

The consequences of such incidents cannot be estimated, especially in light of news about the increasing signs of men loyal to President of Syria Bashar Al-Assad among the migrants. Ziad AlIssa, a representative of the Union of Medical Relief Organizations in Syria, told French deputies that war criminals had taken refuge in France and Europe.

French Interior Minister Bernard Kaznov’s comments summarized Europe’s fears when he revealed that his country’s government was drafting stringent laws to address the risks attached to immigration and terrorism without specifying the nature of the laws.

He said, during a speech to military academy officers in Paris, that the asylum crisis and terrorism are the biggest threats to France and urged the security forces to deal firmly with refugees whose behavior or actions are not in line with French law.

The Europe 1 radio channel quoted Kaznov as saying that the country is still living under the threat of the aftershocks of the terrorist attacks that took place in the beginning of 2015.

Islamophobia in the US takes a militant turn The growing militancy of Islamohobes was widely covered in the Western press during the second half of 2015, something that became clear in the US during an anti-Islam rally in Phoenix. This occurred after presidential candidate Donald Trump, who has

OIC Journal September - December 2015 39

ISLAMOPHOBIA

Anti-migration protesters attend a rally at the border town Tornio between Sweden and Finland, 3 October 2015 (epa)

been campaigning against welcoming refugees, made an impact on some Americans who felt negatively towards foreigners.

Right-wing US extremists had previously carried weapons in marches to “protect” the country against cartels coming across the southern Mexican border or to deal with illegal migrants. Muslims were now becoming the target.

A group that organized a rally in Phoenix wished to replicate their activities in over 18 other US cities. However, the rallies did not take place as planned. Organizers of the group, which became known as Phoenix due to its march on 29 May 2015 in Phoenix, attempted to mobilize millions of people for an anti-Islam march titled the “Freedom of Speech Rally.” However, only a few dozens of people attended. The group had been planning to head to mosques, places of worship and Muslim communities.

One of the organizers of the group, which remarkably calls itself “The Global March for humanity,” said on Facebook, “Standing up against Islam does not mean you’re a racist or a bigot, it simply means you’re not an idiot and can see the reality of Islam around the world.” According to Newsweek, numerous mosques upped security because of the rallies. The Council on American-Islamic Relations also worked with Islamic community leaders to notify local authorities in the cities where rallies were planned. It also called on Muslims to record events on their smart phones to highlight the threats faced

by US Muslims.

The organizers also called on participants to carry weapons in the cities where laws permitted them to do so. They also planned

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to bring live pigs and to deliberately desecrate copies of the Qur’an. According to the group’s Facebook page, Ritzheimer was behind the group’s first march in Phoenix.

Since then, he has been mobilizing support for the hate campaign across the country through a series of YouTube clips.

Following the first call to rally, around 129 people, the majority of them carrying weapons and US flags, gathered outside the Islamic Center in Phoenix.

Heidi Beirich, director of the Intelligence Project at the Southern Poverty Law Center, “We’ve never had this many events targeting mosques in this kind of national way…

This is widespread in a way that these things have not been before.”

The demonstrations underscore a growing anti-Islam movement in the US, which has been exacerbated by rhetoric on the presidential campaign trail and the refugee crisis in Europe, she added.

She said this is “happening in a larger context in which presidential candidates are willing to say just absolutely outrageous statements like a Muslim can’t be president of the United States or who condone statements from their supporters, for example Obama is a Muslim.”

The number of mosques in the US increased from 1,200 in 2000 to 2,100 a few years ago, according to research, entitled “The American Mosque 2011,” conducted by the Hartford Institute for Religious Research. As a result, right-wing elements have been increasingly directing their attention to Muslim places of worship.

Mosques also received emails about planned protests outside them. Ibrahim Mumin,

OIC Journal September - December 2015

Community Outreach Advisor at the Masjid Muhammad in Washington, DC, said, “In one of their emails, they said they were going to bring 3,000 people to Washington, DC, in front of our mosque, and they instructed them to bring their weapons…

Well, we consider that kind of a threat.”

Meanwhile, dozens of American-Islamic organizations called on Muslims and nonMuslims to gather near mosques to express their rejection of right-wing extremism. In response to a planned march in Dearborn, which is home to a substantial Arab community, Jack O’Reilly, the city’s mayor, said, “As we have learned from experience in the past, the best way for the average person in our community to handle these incidents is to ignore them… The demonstration is not really a forum for honest dialogue and anything that intensifies emotions will only intensify conflict.” The statement was issued to justify his office’s decision to not permit Arab-Americans from demonstrating against right-wing marches.

Many Americans criticized the marches. The United Church of Christ called on its congregations “to organize a planned response to any demonstrations in their community targeted at our Muslim brothers and sisters and their places of worship.” The Rev. John C. Dorhauer, General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ, said, “I am calling on them to reach out to and contact the leaders of those worshiping communities and let them know that we stand in solidarity and support of them. Even if there is no organized protest in your community, please reach out to those leaders and let them know of your love and support. This will have a deep impact on all Muslims – whether they are specifically targeted for a protest or not.”

Though the response to the rallies was small, they are evidence of Islamophobia in the US and cause for concern among mosques and religious leaders about the threat of attack.

Ibrahim Hooper, National Communications Director of CAIR, said that in light of rampant hate speech in the country threats need to be taken seriously.

In the same vein, Mary Sanchez, a columnist writing in The National Memo touched on the issue and gave the example of an occurrence at Wichita State University in Kansas.

The university had renovated a nondenominational chapel on campus so that it could accommodate prayer by Muslim students, something that came to the attention of a former student who caused uproar on social

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ISLAMOPHOBIA

Children released from a school in USA following gun shots

media that Muslims were gradually taking over the university. The issue caught the attention of the right-wing Fox News and a columnist on its website called the chapel renovation “Christian cleansing.”

Sanchez explained that the prayer room was never intended to be solely for Christian students and that it was a gift to the university from an unnamed widow in 1964 as a “nondenominational” worship space.

She added that university campuses in the US comprise students of different races and religions, including Buddhists and Hindus and that it was reprehensible that Muslims were being focused on as if they are a threat to the country.

“But Muslims are the focus here. Given what’s happening in the world, some regard any Muslim as a potential threat, whether they are a foreign student, a US citizen by birth or a refugee in crisis. And it’s not only in Kansas that people think this way,” she added.

Prevalence of arms in the US coincides with growing hatred Another aspect of the Islamophobia problem in the US relates to the widespread prevalence of guns. This matter resurfaced lately following two shootings, including

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one at a students’ residence in Houston in which one died and another was injured.

This incident occurred just hours after another shooting at the University of Arizona in which another person died and three others were injured. The shootings coincided with a visit by President Barak Obama to the families of nine people who had earlier died in a shooting in the state of Oregon.

According to the US media, Obama has, in light of increasing armed violence, often stressed the need to pass laws to put an end to the sale of arms. This comes on the backdrop of opposition from Republicans who have a majority in Congress and oppose steps to regulate guns.

The threat comes after organizers behind the Phoenix march wished to exploit laws in some US states, notably Arizona, to carry guns during anti-Islam rallies. It is no coincidence that these negative and hatefilled feelings also led to the shooting dead of three young Muslims, a man and two women, in North Carolina in early 2015.

The shootings, which incidentally received hardly any media attention in the US, were carried out by a man who hated Muslims.

A report published in the same period said that the US globally ranked first in terms of shootings with a total of 133 resulting in 487 deaths between 2014 and 2015. The

report pointed out that during the same period there were 23 similar incidents in 13 European countries, while in Russia there were a total of 203 deaths in that period.

These figures show, according to a study by researchers from the University of New York and Texas, that there are 0.15 shootings per 100,000 people in the US. The US also occupies first place in terms of gun ownership, according to a research project carried out in Geneva in 2011. There are also 270 million guns in the US with 89 weapons per 100 inhabitants.

It seems that the problem of guns has taken another twist in the US; Hillary Clinton, who is competing for the US Democratic presidential nomination, criticized her rival Bernie Sanders in relation to gun laws during a debate. Clinton responded to a question whether Sanders, the senator of Vermont, was strong enough to regulate gun ownership by saying he was incapable.

The candidates’ positions on gun ownership vary, especially after the Oregon incident.

Clinton said her rival is not strong enough to champion further gun regulations and made reference to his position during a vote in 2005 on the issue of procedures that would grant gun manufacturers immunity from being prosecuted by the victims of shootings.

OIC Journal September - December 2015 41

CULTURE

9th Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers

Muscat Declaration Calls for Supporting Al-Quds and Hebron Muscat, Oman: The 9th Islamic Conference of Cultural Ministers (ICCM), which was held in Muscat, Oman, on 2-4 November 2015 under the title “Towards a Middle Stance Culture Favoring Muslim Societies’ Development,” ended with the issuing of the Muscat Declaration and calls for supporting Al-Quds and Hebron.

The event was attended by Secretary General of the OIC Iyad Ameen Madani, Director General of ISESCO Dr Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri, Saudi Minister of Culture and Media Dr Adel bin Zayd Al-Tarifi, ministers and heads of delegations from 38 OIC Member States, and representatives of OIC Observer States and regional and international organizations. The conference was declared open by Omani Minister of Heritage and Culture Sayyid Haitham bin Tariq Al-Said.

Secretary-General of the OIC Iyad Ameen Madani delivered a speech at the opening session in which he called for reviewing the cultural strategy of the Islamic world and the establishment of an “OIC Festival of Cultural Expression” on the margins of each Conference of Ministers of Culture which convenes every two years.

He also encouraged member countries to be more active in the implementation of initiatives aimed at increasing cultural exchanges among themselves, while calling on the convening of forums and events, the establishing of channels for interaction within the OIC framework, and introducing more forums to have a broader impact.

Director-General of ISESCO Dr Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri called for protecting the security of Member States, culturally and religiously, non-interference in internal affairs and respect for diversity. He also stressed that a culture of moderation is the opposite of extremism and that cultural development is the alternative to cultural backwardness in all ways.

The event also led to the adoption of the Muscat Declaration which called on ISESCO to carry on with support programs

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dedicated to Al-Quds Al-Sharif and Hebron with a view to counter Israel’s Judaization campaigns, attempts to obliterate the civilizational identity of archeological landmarks, and destruction, looting and plunder of the cultural heritage of the two cities; it also called to coordinate with relevant official parties and regional and international institutions in this regard.

The conference further called to address the phenomenon of Islamophobia and the negative effects resulting from the distortion of the image of Islam and Muslims around the world, to work towards countering the rhetoric of incitement against Islamic civilization and the culture of Member States, and to provide viable alternatives in the areas of media, cultural action, creative activity, historical research and curricula etc.

The conference also lauded the efforts of the Islamic World Heritage Committee to protect the natural and civilization heritage of Member States, and invited the committee to devote part of its attention to Islamic heritage outside Member States in coordination and cooperation with relevant and competent parties.

The conference also called on Member States to be aware of the need to strengthen coordination and partnership among the various stakeholders concerned with culture issues, especially with the relevant governmental sectors, and academic and legal institutes.

The conference also praised the efforts of ISESCO within the framework of dialogue between cultures and for responding to the media distortion of Islam and Muslims through strategic documents and international conferences and seminars held with regional and international partners.

In this context, participants praised the cooperation with the Vatican within the framework of the international conference on “promoting a culture of mutual respect and human solidarity among the followers of religions” that was co-held by ISESCO and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious

OIC Journal September - December 2015

Dialogue in Buenos Aires on 17-18 September 2015. They also adopted the “Buenos Aires Declaration” issued by the Conference on Muslim-Christian Dialogue and welcomed the key elements and objectives of the cooperation agreement between ISESCO and the Pontifical Council.

Participants also called on Member States to organize the “First OIC Festival of Cultural Expression” on the sidelines of the the Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers in conjunction with the Islamic culture capitals’ festivities and in coordination with Member States that wish to host it. The conference agreed that as of the year 2016, Member States and OIC institutions will celebrate the OIC Day of Culture.

The conference also adopted a study on Western media portrayals of Islam in light of international law. Member States advised to include a module on this subject within the curricula of media colleges to educate students and journalists on the subject and to involve them in finding appropriate solutions to reduce negative effects.

ISESCO called for holding training courses and seminars for the benefit of journalists and researchers in the field of human rights and media law within the Muslim world and beyond. The conference also adopted the Director General’s Report on the Implementation of the Cultural Strategy for the Islamic World and Sector-specific Strategies, taking into consideration the observations of the conference’s participants.

The meeting decided to hold the 10th session of the Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers in Sudan during the second half of November 2017 and elected Sennar as the Arab Region’s Islamic Culture Capital. It was also decided that the 11th session of the Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers will be held in Tunisia in the second half of November 2019. Tunis was elected as the Arab Region’s Islamic Culture Capital. They also agreed to elect Al-Muharraq instead of Manama, as the Arab Region’s Islamic Culture Capital for 2018.

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‫األسرة‬

As of today, Almaty is a principal city of the Republic of Kazakhstan and is the center of the country’s economic, scientific and cultural activities. The forming of the city and its culture is centuries old. The bright palette of its convoluted history is reflected in its places of interest and historical monuments.

Name: The name of Almaty city originates from the Old Turkic word “Alma” which means “the red berry” or “the apple.” From time immemorial the city has been referred to as Almaty, Almatou and Alimty.

Location: The modern city of Almaty is located in the south-east of the country. The rivers flowing in the country and the morainic lake are used as the primary sources of the city’s water supply system.

Origin and evolution: The era between the 9th and 14th centuries are important due to an extensive predominance of the growing cities. Cross-country commerce and business links contributed a lot to the city’s development, economic growth, money circularization activation and cultivation of architecture and arts, making the newly emerged Zhetusy and Almaty the major centers of urban expansion.

The middle of the 17th century witnessed a significant migration of nomadic tribes, noted under the guidance of Kirey and Zhanibek Sultans. Almaty became the place of origin of the Kazakh Khanate which contributed to the completion of the formation of the Kazakh ethnicity.

The area of Almaty was conquered by the Djunghars in the second half of the 17th century. The triumphant Anyrakai Battle of

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Almaty

‫شؤون‬

of Kazakhstan. On 16 December 1991, Kazakhstan proclaimed its independence.

Almaty: Capital of Islamic Culture for Asia Region 2016

Mosques: One of the most magnificent mosques of Kazakhstan is the Central Mosque in Almaty which is undoubtedly constructed in the Timurid style of architecture and was completed in 1999. A truly magnificent building, it is the biggest mosque in Kazakhstan decorated with marble and encaustic tiles, presented in the Kazakh national style.

1730 was the turning point in the town’s history. Due to that victorious battle, the Kazakh nation was capable of regaining its sovereignty, preserving its cultural heritage and ancient traditions, and reconstituting its territorial integrity (which incorporated the areas of Zhetysu and Almaty region). The annexation of Kazakhstan into Russia was embarked on in 1731 and lasted over 130 years. Soviet Power in Verney was officially proclaimed in 1918. During the Civil War (1918-20), Verney became the center of political and military opposition to the White Guards and counterrevolutionary forces.

Cultural aspects: This city may justifiably be referred to as the cultural capital of Kazakhstan. It has more than 20 theaters, 53 museums and art galleries, over 18 cinemas and 25 libraries; it is also the seat of other cultural facilities. The city is also, at present, home to 278 kindergartens, 227 comprehensive schools, over 40 higher educational establishments and over 159 healthcare facilities. There are about 146 monuments of history and architecture in Almaty of which 16 are archeological memorials, 86 architectural artifacts and 44 exhibits.

Another major political campaign was launched in the town when it was officially renamed Alma-Ata in 1921. During the Great Patriotic War (WWII) the city was instrumental in turning Kazakhstan into a powerful military armory and the city experienced a surge of industrial development. The December events of 1986 in actuality became the first step on the way to democracy when citizens were able to vocalize and express their opinion in public. In 1991, Nursultan Nazarbayev became the first publicly-elected President of Kazakhstan. The Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic was renamed the Republic

The city is also famous for its highest point, Kok-Tobe Mountain, which is 1,100 meters above sea level. In terms of recreation, it has a variety of amusement park type attractions and restaurants. The viewing platform at the Kok-Tobe Mountain allows enjoyable views of the city.

One of the principal objectives at the moment is to upgrade Almaty into a worldrenowned financial center and hub of state-of-the-art technologies. Dynamically developing and comfortable for work and leisure, Almaty is indisputably one of the leading cities of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

OIC Journal September - December 2015 43

FAMILY

AFFAirs

National Committees of OIC Countries to Follow up on

Implementation of OIC Action Plan for the Advancement of Women

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: The OIC General Secretariat hosted at its headquarters in Jeddah on 3 November 2015 an “Intergovernmental Experts Group” meeting to discuss the implementation of the “OIC Plan of Action for the Advancement of Women” (OPAAW).

Nora Al-Hajri, Head of the Productive Families Department at the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs in Qatar, chaired the meeting.

She said that women in OIC Member States will be facing many challenges in the coming period and added that the first assessment meeting aims to consider the feasibility of the OPAAW, particularly its implementation.

Dr. Abdulaziz Alsebail, Director General of the OIC Cabinet and Chief Adviser to the OIC Secretary General, delivered a speech on behalf of OIC Secretary General Iyad Ameen Madani.

In the speech, Madani said that after six years since the adoption of the plan and following five ministerial conferences on women, new steps are necessary. This, he said, includes an evaluative study identifying the added value that the plan would bring to the OIC’s work in relation to the advancement of women.

Madani also called for assessing the contributions of stakeholders which include the OIC’s Member States, Subsidiary, Specialized and Affiliated Organs, and civil society organizations.

The Secretary General also underlined the importance of ratifying the “Statute of the Women Development Organization”—a specialized OIC organization based in Cai-

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ro—to get a quorum and enter it into force.

The agenda of the “Intergovernmental Experts Group” meeting for assessing the OPAAW included a presentation on the “State of Gender and Family Well-Being in OIC Member Countries,” the outline of the revised OPAAW plan, and results of an assessment of ministerial meetings on women and its role in the advancement of women in Member States.

At the end of the meeting, the Intergovernmental Experts Group recommended the establishment of a network for the exchange of experiences and expertise among OIC Member States, as well as signed Memorandums of Understanding between states to benefit from each other in areas of concern to women and in which there is tangible progress.

Participants also recommended the formation of committees at the OIC level and the levels of its Specialized and Affiliated Organs, in addition to the formation of national committees at the level of Member States to follow up on the implementation of the OPAAW. The meeting also called to include within the OPAAW issues affecting women in conflict and in the post-conflict phase, and support economic recovery and integration efforts to give opportunities to women who suffer due to conflicts and natural disasters.

Participants urged OIC Member States to take the initiative to hold periodical conferences, seminars and symposia to discuss women’s issues and coordinate their positions in various forums, stressing that workshops and awareness campaigns play a very

OIC Journal September - December 2015

constructive role in highlighting the true image of women in OIC countries and championing their issues at the national, regional and international levels.

Participants called for giving top priority to eradicate illiteracy among women, with training and empowerment of women to actively participate in the formulation of educational strategies in Member States, as well as to take concrete measures to improve and expand opportunities for girls and young women’s access to education at all levels, through, inter alia, student exchange programs among OIC countries.

The meeting also called for women in OIC countries to be considered equal partners in decision-making and in the implementation of the OPAAW, that their views are listened to with care and that their concerns are responded to.

The meeting also urged the provision of women-friendly environments for the young and elderly that women would feel confident in and safe with, regardless of whether they are mothers, housewives or working women as that would allow them to positively lead their families and communities.

The Intergovernmental Experts Group recommended the establishment of a network for the exchange of experiences and expertise among OIC Member States

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Media Discussions on Launching an OIC TV Channel

The OIC General Secretariat hosted, at its headquarters in Jeddah on October 20, 2015, a Consultative Meeting of the AdHoc Committee on Finalizing the Launch Process of an OIC Satellite TV Channel.

The Committee discussed a draft feasibility study on the launch of the channel and other matters pertaining to law, finance and the formation of an Advisory Board in preparation for the submission of the study

OIC Concerned at Threats against Afghan Media The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has expressed its concern at a statement issued by the Afghan Taliban on 12th October where news channels and journalists in Afghanistan were specifically identified as potential targets.

The OIC called on all sides to respect and protect the right to freedom of expression. It said that journalists, according to international humanitarian law, are civilians, and that any attack on them is against the rule of law.

Journalists legally have the right to freedom of expression, stated the OIC. “Journalists are crucial in providing impartial and independent information about events in any society and they need to be respected and protected,” said the OIC.

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at an open-ended expert level meeting for approval. The expert level meeting will be attended by all OIC Member States and their Ministers of Information and Foreign Affairs.

The draft study was submitted by Lola New Horizon (Madrid), Media Research and Consultancy (Madrid) and Creative Media Solutions (Dubai).

OIC Secretary General Iyad Ameen Madani said in a speech at the meeting, which was delivered on his behalf by Director of the Department of Public Information and Communications Ms Maha Mustafa Aqeel,

that the Islamic world is today in an urgent need to have a serious and purposeful television channel that would be able to make a positive change on its behalf and contribute to achieving the goals that Muslim countries and people aspire for.

He also said that the television channel will address Muslims across the Islamic world, discuss issues affecting them, create awareness of the Ummah’s culture, encourage solidarity among Muslims, defend their future and embody on the ground the goals that lead to joint Islamic action as defined in the OIC Charter.

He added that the OIC General Secretariat supports and promotes joint Islamic action, and that events and speedy developments in many parts of the Islamic world pushes us to progress in the media work we do, take quantum leaps that would help us defend and clarify our mission, defend the Ummah’s identity, values ​​and culture, and invest in what this Ummah has in terms of immense human and natural abilities. He added that it is on the backdrop of this that the OIC TV channel will broadcast in various parts of the world and speak to everyone to deliver correct information and consolidate knowledge for all.

OIC Issues Clarification Statement on IRTU In 2004, the Iranian capital Tehran hosted an international conference which resulted in announcing the establishment of an international union for Islamic radio and television stations. The establishment of the Islamic Radio and Television Union (IRTU) was considered a development to the work of the external media unit at the Iranian Radio and Television Institute, which was entrusted with communication and media exposure.

The statements issued by the IRTU created confusion because some mistakenly assumed that it is related to OIC due to the close similarity in its name to the Islamic Broadcasting Union (IBU, a specialized organ of OIC that was established in 1975 and headquartered in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Hence, and in order to clarify the situation, the OIC and IBU issued a joint statement de-

nying any relation with IRTU: “We, at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), have seen from time to time statements issued by a body called “Islamic Radio and Television Union.” This designation has confused many into thinking that the Union is an offshoot of the OIC or of one of its subsidiary, specialized or affiliated organs. The source of the confusion may be the clear closeness between this name and the OIC’s Islamic Broadcasting Union (IBU).

In view of the above, the OIC General Secretariat and the IBU wish to state unequivocally that the body called “Islamic Radio and Television Union” has no connection whatsoever with the OIC, that its statements represent neither the views or positions of the OIC, and that in no way does it place any obligation on the OIC.”

OIC Journal September - December 2015 45

EDUCATION Syrian Asylum Children

Face a Bleak Future without Education the wider world. No matter how long the war continues, the Syrian people will remain in spite of all the sacrifices. We do not want our children to miss the future train. In short, this is our message to them and to the world,” Al-Ajja stressed.

Issa, the 8-year old with an innocent smile, grabs a handbag from the project manager when she asks him what he needs. He replies in colloquial Syrian dialect, «I want a schoolbag. I do not have one.

I want to play beside the tent and study.” Then Huda, a girl of his age whose father was killed in Daraa and reached the camp with her mother and three siblings two years ago, approaches him saying: “I also need a bag to put bread in it so that it does not remain on the ground.”

Amman (DPA): Ahmed feels ashamed, holding a book in his hand but does not know how to read though he is 13 years. ‬‫‫‬This is just one of the cases that faces Rola Al-Ajja, in charge of «Al-Bariq» project for educating Syrian asylum children in neighboring countries. «The tragedy has many ramifications. The number of children who need education is high. Parents also have psychological, physical and material sufferings and are unable to help their children, which means that we are facing two dilemmas at the same time. We want to contribute to their education in a modest environment geographically, educationally and service wise,” indicated Al-Ajja.

Al-Ajja, who has been working for years to collect aid from Syrian figures and donor associations for Syrian asylum schools, stated that her organization has four schools in less than a year, which is the age of the project. “One is near Daraa, and the rest in Syrian refugee camps in Jordan. We have about 1,500 students and all schools are mixed. The curricula are not Syrian. We need to teach them in any way and we do not want for an entire generation to remain without education because this would be a great danger to everyone,” added Al-Ajja. The Children seem tired mentally and physically and their eyes wander picking up anything they may encounter and rejoice in it. Toiletries are not sufficiently available, neither food nor drink. Clothes hardly suffice while medication is first aids and when needed only.

The case of Ahmed is not the only case; here lies the danger. «We have cases of children suffering from learning difficulties because of traumas of the war in Syria. We have recruited psychologists to help students, and we are trying to work with their parents to assist in strengthening their children’s learning skills,” elaborated Al-Ajja.

«Education is the most prominent weapon in the fight against backwardness, extremism and oppressive dictatorships that have deteriorated our peoples. We urge our students to fight backwardness and win over ignorance with knowledge and looking forward to

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According to unofficial statistics, about 40 percent of the Syrian refugee children in neighboring countries are without education, which is a realistic nightmare. In addition, this environment that suffers the tragedies of war, poverty, lack of education, disintegration of social and family situation because of problems or loss of a parent, would be open for penetration and exploitation by all parties that have an interest in that environment.

Rola says that most of the funding for these schools comes from voluntary contributions from the Syrians, especially those living abroad, and some donors, Arab and foreigners, not including the United Nations.

Students gather in modest classes in terms of school furniture, means of education and explanation. The focus is on education as the most prominent target. The number of pupils sometimes exceed 35 per class. Occasionally, they gather to follow up a particular activity like games, sports, drawing and music.

“Al-Bariq» organization offers a number of scholarships for outstanding students for university. It also organizes education courses for women in sewing, upbringing, and handicraft as a contribution to the empowerment of Syrian women.

Though there are hundreds of schools for Syrian refugees, they do not meet the need in the light of millions of refugees. Furthermore, tens of thousands of children dropped out into the labor market, because they could not find places in schools or because of the dire living condition of their families.

«We exert great efforts with parents and students to come to the school, but this is a tedious and complicated process. In addition, we are unable to accommodate all students, due to our capabilities.

I believe that a generation without learning is the most dangerous thing. This is the catastrophe we fear for the future of Syrians,” concluded one of the teachers.

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EDUCATION Khalil Gibran School Opens a Door for Arab Youth in New York New York (DPA): The 15-year-old girls in hijab were talking about school and laughing, sharing their love for mathematics, the school canteen’s burgers and teen pop star Justin Bieber, as well as American movies, which are a lot better with Arabic subtitles. The admiration list also includes US President Barak Obama.

The families of Yamama Hasan and Entisar Yahiya escaped war-torn Yemen and came to the United States. They are now taking the metro from the Flatbush neighborhood, where the majority of immigrants reside, to head to Brooklyn, the heart of New York City, as they pursue their education at The Khalil Gibran International Academy, considered the first English-Arabic public school in the country.

“We prefer living here because we have more opportunities,” said Yamama without stressing her English vowels. The girls add that both of their fathers have learnt some English and that their mothers still need to do some catching up. “We are happier here and it’s a lot safer,” said Entisar.

New York is a melting pot of different races and nationalities. According to a study by the New York City Department of City Planning, 37.2 percent of the 8 million people in the city were born abroad, while the percentage exceeds two-thirds in some boroughs.

The percentage of those born abroad is 51 percent of total births in the city, while six out of every 10 people in New York are either immigrants or children of immigrants.

On the other hand, 49 percent of the city’s residents speak a language other than English at home.

It cannot be said that there is complete harmony among the diverse population of New York; hate crimes recently increased, particularly against Muslims and Jews, although this is still relatively limited. New York City Police Department reported 127 crimes of that type within the first half of the current year—a 9 percent increase in comparison to the previous year.

The Khalil Gibran International Academy, established in 2007, aims to promote better understanding among different cultures.

Over the last four years, authorities in New York have spent more than $3 million to renovate a former hospital building for use by the academy.

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“It is a blend that we are proud of,” said the schools’ principal, Winston Hamann, who spoke of the culturally diverse staff at his school. Hamann is originally from Colombia, while the vice-principal is from Greece. The Arabic teachers come from different countries including Algeria and Morocco, while the administrative office is headed by a lady from Haiti. Though staff are not required to speak Arabic, it is mandatory for students to learn both English and Arabic. Moreover, students are not obliged to abide by a uniform policy and can wear shorts, the Hijab or the Abaya.

A school advisor mentioned that many students work afterhours to help their families earn a living.

The main partner of the school is a nonprofit secular organization called the “Arab American Family Support Center,” the first and largest organization providing social services to speakers of Arabic in the area.

A coordinator from the organization works at the school to ensure that all students and their families receive a wide range of services.

The organization’s headquarters are in Brooklyn where there are many recent Arab immigrants. The organization provides services to about 6,000 low-income people through programs that guarantee them consultancy, legal services, healthcare, help with combating violence and learning English as a second language; this is crucial as

many of the immigrants who seek services do not write or read. Most of them do not speak English as a first language, like Hussain, who came from Egypt.

Hussain received a Green Card as part of a lottery conducted by the United States; this enabled him to permanently stay and work in the US. Hussain sought the offers of an organization to get help.

“My little four children have learnt English faster than me and I’m trying to catch up,” Hussain said, “I found a job as a driver; I am happy staying here and I want to stay permanently,” he added.

Yolanda who resides in Bronx County in New York managed to learn how to read and write; her son works as a barber. He used to accompany her everywhere, but now she is able to move around on her own and take the subway.

“The support centers in the United States work better than in Europe,” said Lena Alhusseini, executive director of the organization. “We work towards building communities to a greater degree, although we are also witnessing a rise in hate crimes,” she added.

She adds that she recently helped the family of a 15-year-old boy who was ordered to disembark from a public bus by the driver because he was speaking Arabic. “The family would not have called the police themselves and so we did that on their behalf,” she said.

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HEALTH OIC Health Ministers Align Strategic Health Program of Action with UN Sustainable Development Goals

Istanbul, Turkey – The “5th Islamic Conference of Health Ministers” that was held between 17-19 November 2015 in Istanbul, Turkey, under the theme “Building Bridges for a Healthier Ummah” concluded with speeches by President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Secretary General of the OIC Iyad Ameen Madani.

The conference, held under the chairmanship of Turkey, was attended by a large number of high level delegations, including Ministers and Deputy Ministers of Health of OIC Member States, observer states and international organizations.

In a wide-ranging speech, President Erdogan said that the Conference of Health Ministers in Istanbul highlights the way Muslim countries are able to come together to cooperate on issues of mutual concern and that this collaboration needs to extend outside the sphere of health and include other issues affecting Muslim countries, including terrorism, the refugee crisis and poverty which is the root cause of terrorism. He also urged OIC countries to unite and show solidarity with each other.

In his speech, the OIC Secretary General congratulated the Health Ministers on the adoption of the Conference’s recommendations to rebrand the OIC Strategic Health Program of Action (SHPA) and align its implementation plan with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

Madani also congratulated Turkey for a successful Conference and expressed confidence that with Turkey’s stewardship the OIC will progress in achieving better health standards across the Muslim

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world. He also thanked Indonesia for its effective chairmanship of the previous session of the health ministers’ conference.

Speaking about challenges presently facing the Muslim world, the Secretary General said there is an ever-growing need for strengthening bilateral and multicultural cooperation to overcome them. He also said that improvement in health could significantly contribute to efforts by member states to alleviate poverty, adding that investments in health could result in positive spin-offs in national and international security and stability.

Underscoring the OIC’s commitment to health, the OIC Secretary General highlighted the joint efforts of the OIC and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) to assist countries in West Africa affected by Ebola in 2014, demonstrating how the OIC and its institutions add value to international efforts to mobilize regional partnerships and resources.

Ministers adopted some five resolutions at the event. These included the OIC Strategic Health Program of Action 2014-2023 and Strengthening Health Cooperation; Healthy Life Style, Prevention and Control of Communicable and Non-Communicable Diseases, and Health Emergencies and Disasters; Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition; Self-Reliance in Supply and Production of Medicines, Vaccines and Medical Technologies; and Health Conditions in Occupied Palestinian Territories including East Jerusalem, and in the Occupied Syrian Golan. Ministers also adopted the Istanbul Declaration which reaffirmed the centrality of health issues to the overall well being of people and the so-

OIC Journal September - December 2015

cio-economic development of OIC Member States.

The event was opened by Indonesia’s Minister of Health Nila Moeloek who also delivered a speech. Other speakers on the first day included Turkish Minister of Health Mehmet Muezzinoglu, Saudi Minister of Health Eng. Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al-Falih and OIC Assistant Secretary General Ambassador Muhammad Naeem Khan.

Four panel discussions—on cancer, healthrelated emergencies, technology addiction and involvement of NGOs in OIC healthrelated agendas—took place over the three-day conference. The panels were attended by international experts and led to the adoption of a set of recommendations for individual countries and mutual international cooperation.

President Erdogan and the OIC Secretary General also met on the sidelines of the event and discussed issues concerning the Muslim world and preparations for the next Islamic Summit that Turkey will host in April 2016. The Secretary General also held separate meetings with the Foreign Minister of Turkey Feridun Sinirlioglu and Health Minister of Turkey Mehmet Muezzinoglu. The 6th Session of the Islamic Conference of Health Minister will be held in Saudi Arabia in 2017. Participants also welcomed Iran’s offer to host the 7th session in 2019.

In attendance at the event were several UN agencies and other international partners, including the World Health Organization, Global Polio Eradication Initiative, the Global Fund for fighting HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis, GAVI, Stop TB Partnership, Roll Back Malaria, UNICEF, UNFPA and USAID. Health has been among the priority issues in the OIC agenda. The Ten Year Program of Action (TYPOA) specifically included specific actions in the field of health. The OIC Strategic Health Program of Action (SHPA), adopted by the 4th Islamic Conference of health Ministers in Jakarta in 2013, constitutes a framework for national actions and international collaboration to address priority areas that cover the recently adopted health-related SDG targets. Health has been afforded due prominence in the OIC 2025 Program of Action which is currently under discussion among member states.

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HEALTH OIC in Unique Position to Improve Health throughout Muslim World Due to its unique position and influence within the Muslim world, several international stakeholders acknowledge the OIC’s consensus-driven role in tackling major global health concerns and view it as a key partner in improving global health.

These were the sentiments shared by several organizations and countries on the side-lines of the “5th Session of the Islamic Conference of Health Ministers” in Istanbul during 17-19 November 2015.

Dr. Rayana BouHaka from the World Health Organisation (WHO) highlighted the role of the OIC in gathering religious scholars in Pakistan and Afghanistan to deliver hardhitting messages to the masses in tackling an endemic bout of polio there.

“The outcome is that the situation is improving—Pakistan and Afghanistan are reporting much less cases now... There is a lot of potential in the OIC … we need to harvest the influence the OIC has in terms of reaching the global objectives of WHO,” said BouHaka.

Arsalan Suleman, acting US Special Envoy to the OIC, echoed these views. “The unique capacity that the OIC brings is being able to

work with the full range of member countries around particular issues,” he said, adding that having an organization that has the buy in of so many member countries helps provide access to areas where the US or other international organizations do not have deep contacts.

“The OIC does have a good brand in that sense … so communities that may not fully understand vaccines, or the purpose of different health measures, having the OIC involved in correcting misunderstanding or disseminating information can be a huge benefit,” he added.

Suleman said he is encouraging the OIC to be more involved in the Global Health Security Agenda which is an initiative that the US is involved in with a number of other countries on strengthening global capacity to deal with infectious diseases before they become epidemics.

He also underscored the OIC’s role in tackling Ebola. “Two of the three countries that were really the epicenters of the Ebola epidemic were OIC member countries, and so the OIC support for those countries in providing funds and other expertise in respond-

ing to that was very important,” he said.

“I think the OIC definitely had a positive role to play in that response and, looking forward, they certainly have an important role to play in helping to strengthen national health capacity throughout OIC Member States to ensure that the Member States, themselves, can respond to such outbreaks,” he added.

Hassan Al-Damluji from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation said his organization offers millions in grants but always works with partners such as the OIC. “We always work through partners and the OIC is a really important partner because they have an incredible network of relationships and they are in themselves many of the countries in the global south or developing countries where we’re trying to affect change,” he said.

Speaking about the event, he said, “These events are always interesting in regards to the content and the rest of it… it’s a fantastic opportunity to meet a lot of different people who are in their own capitals around the world, and it’s a live example of why the OIC is so important as it allows them to talk to each other.”

Islamic Advisory Group for Polio Eradication Launches Website The Islamic Advisory Group for Polio Eradication (IAG) launched from Cairo on 28 July 2015 its official website that is designed to showcase the work of the Group and provide the general public, researchers, media and other visitors with guidance, information and news about polio and efforts to eradicate it in the Muslim world and globally.

The new website offers quick and easy access to essential information on the IAG’s creation, composition, activities, declarations and other aspects. The IAG was formed to mainly help counteract adverse effects on polio eradication from conflict situations, refusals of vaccination based on wrong religious opinions and other similar hurdles.

While contents of the website are currently available only in English, it is planned to provide them in the future in Arabic and possibly other languages of target audiences.

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The website uses the latest interactive layouts to work in all computers and mobile devices. It is divided into four sections: About Us, Activities, Press Centre, and Gallery. In addition, a contact form enables visitors to send feedbacks, inquiries and requests and to receive responses and required information. It also features links to such key social media platforms of the Group as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Flickr.

Aiming to support the extensive polio eradication efforts in Pakistan, the website also presents the National Islamic Advisory Group in Pakistan for Polio Eradication (NIAG), its main objectives, plans, activities and other basic information.

At the same time, the IAG released its first advocacy video as another information resource about the Group and its work. The five-minute video will be shown during relevant events and screened on many TV stations, particularly in polio-endemic countries

and donor nations, as part of the Group’s drive to widely communicate its mission and contributions. The video can be viewed through a link on the website’s home page.

The IAG was launched in February 2014 after consultations among Al-Azhar Al Sharif of Egypt, the International Islamic Fiqh Academy (IIFA), the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) which all felt the pressing need to lend a hand to polio-plagued Muslim nations.

The IAG comprises leading Islamic institutions, religious scholars, technical experts and academia from the Muslim world. It aims to muster support from Muslim religious scholars and groups, donor countries and organizations as well as other contributors for global efforts to end polio, particularly in the three remaining endemic countries (Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria) and in such outbreak countries as Somalia.

Visit the IAG website www.iag-group.org

OIC Journal September - December 2015 49

ENVIRONMENT Islamic Conference of Environment Ministers Calls

for Concerted Efforts towards Sustained Development boosting environment protection and development sustainability in the Islamic world were adopted. This included the adoption of the draft “Islamic Declaration on Environment Protection and Sustainable Development” which emphasizes the need for renewed political commitment by Member States to the international agenda for sustainable development. It also calls for channeling all efforts in achieving sustainable development, while establishing or strengthening national structures to implement sustainable development plans and programs. It further calls for endowing them with inhouse follow-up bodies to optimize implementation, and also involve civil society organizations and the private sector in the implementation of sustainable development plans given their vital role in this regard.

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Rabat, Morocco – The OIC together with the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) and with the support of Morocco held the 6th Islamic Conference of Environment Ministers (ICEM) in Rabat, Morocco on 8-9 October 2015.

The conference, titled “Climate Change: Future Challenges for Sustainable Development,” was held to highlight the significance of the recent adoption in New York of the UN Post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals.

Besides renewing their commitment to the goals, the Ministers of Environment from OIC countries sought to articulate a common vision in relation to the upcoming Conference of Parties (COP21) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

Sustainable development is a priority issue on the OIC agenda given the peculiar challenges facing OIC countries on account of population growth, depletion of resources, environmental degradation and climate change. While, historically, the share of OIC countries in green house gas emissions and global warming has been negligible, these countries are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

At the opening, ISESCO Director General Dr. Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri said that the ICEM is an efficient tool for consolidating the Islamic position in international forums relating to the environment and climate change, adding that the participation of the Islamic world in the Rio+20 Summit in 2012 was based on a rational integrated plan that the ICEM adopted.

He also said that ISESCO’s participation in COP 21 would add a major impetus to the efforts of the international community to bring to fruition projects addressing climate change.

At the close of the event, a set of documents and projects aimed at

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The declaration further commended the role of UN agencies in the sphere of the environment and sustainable development, and urged the international community to take concrete steps towards debt cancellation, easy access to markets, technology transfer and capacity building. It also called on UN agencies and regional organizations to reconsider relevant international instruments to enable all states to address the social, economic, environmental, cultural and human rights-related challenges facing sustainable development.

It also called for concerted efforts by the international community to put an end to the internal wars, occupation, colonization and conflicts that have taken place in some Member States, with all the consequent damage to development infrastructure, increase in the number of refugees and destruction of historical monuments and cultural heritage. It said that this should be done in a way that stimulates the process of sustainable development and proceeds in accordance with Principle 23 of the Rio Declaration which specifically states that the environment and natural resources of people under oppression, domination and occupation shall be protected.

In addition, the declaration emphasized the necessity for developed countries to assume their environmental responsibilities, take resolute measures in accordance with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol as well as subsequent international meetings on climate, and pay more attention to degradation of biodiversity and habitat around the world.

At the opening of the event HRH Princess Lalla Hasna, President of the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection, was awarded with the Conference’s Gold Shield in appreciation for her leading initiatives to protect the environment and achieve sustainable development.

The sixth Islamic Conference of Environment Ministers comes 13 years after the convening of the first session in June 2002, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, during which a founding document entitled “Jeddah Commitments on Sustainable Development” was adopted, laying the foundation for joint Islamic action in the environmental field. The seventh session of the meeting will be held at the ISESCO headquarters in October 2017.

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ENVIRONMENT Ticking Time Bomb Threatens to Destroy Virgin Forests

in Uganda Kampala (DPA): The landscape in Uganda is overwhelmingly gloomy and pessimistic, and if no action is taken or no solutions are reached, this East-African country will be transformed in less than four decades into infertile land ravaged by natural disasters with wild life disappearing too.

“If deforestation continues at this pace, nothing will be left by 2050,” warned Gilbert Kadelo, a spokesperson for the National Agency of forests (NFA).

The disastrous consequences will not only affect the population, but even animals such as the galagos (bushbaby monkeys). “Forests are eroded in the face of increasing demand for agricultural land to meet the growing needs of the population for beans and other agricultural crops, due to the steady population increase,” said Gilbert, adding that Uganda’s population increases by up to 3.4 percent annually.

The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) called for more care and responsibility in dealing with natural resources. The UNEP celebrated World Environment Day in June last year under the theme “Seven Billion Dreams. One planet. Consume with Care.” with the participation of 150 countries. According to the UN, “If population growth continues in this way, by 2050 inhabitants of planet earth will need three planets to accommodate them with the current style of living.”

In general, Africa has suffered greatly because of the destruction of the environment, with farmers cutting down trees to gain more land for cultivation in order to meet food needs for themselves and their families. In addition, demand for wood trees increased to build more homes.

Uganda is located in the Congo Basin, in the area known as the “Green Africa Belt” on the equator, which covers both Cameroon and Gabon, and extends through the Congo to the Great Lakes region, which includes Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. Nothing compares to this region in virgin forest except the jungles of the Amazon in South America. The Bwindi National Park, south-west of Uganda, hosts the last remaining species of mountain gorillas in the world.

However, according to the NFA, the forest area is witnessing an annual recession at the rate of 92 thousand hectares. Uganda has 3.5 million hectares of forests that are not subject to any kind of control, 70 percent of which are managed by the private sector.

“We remove the wood in order to stay alive, to grow grain, potatoes and Minidoka,” explains Eissa Kaunja, a father of two children, who lives in the town of Masaba, southeast of the capital Kampala. He is currently facing another kind of problems, “with the passage of time, monkey attacks are increasing. They play havoc with our crops and food,” he says. Great apes have settled in the dense forests surrounding the area which is being subjected to accelerated de-

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forestation, forcing them to quit their ecosystem in search for food.

Hungry apes are not the only source of threat to Uganda. Experts warn against the disappearance of forests, which will force this African country to import timber at exorbitant prices. What is worse is the elimination of the “green lung”, which will lead to considerable disruption in the oxygen and carbon dioxide proportions with dire consequences for the climate, including long periods of drought and devastating flood seasons. That will necessarily lead to the destruction of crops, and by extension the spread of serious famine, in addition to diseases and epidemics.

“We are faced with a ticking time bomb because of the destruction of virgin forest in Uganda, which would result in a substantial rise in greenhouse carbon dioxide emissions harmful to the atmosphere,” says John Makombo, an environment expert from the Ugandan Wildlife Agency (UWA). Moreover, droughts are becoming longer and more frequent, affecting crops. Makombo warns that without reforestation, the country will witness an imminent disaster.

According to several environmental protection activists, Ugandan government is not doing enough to protect forests. Some also accuse politicians of involvement in dubious business to increase their wealth by trading in timber, which they get through the destruction of forests.

In this context, environment activist Robert Aakagu explains, “unfortunately those who have to protect forests are the major contributors to the destruction of the environment. If the same pattern continues Uganda will turn into barren desert one day.”

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SCIENCE Report by Taskforce on Science in Muslim World Makes Grim Reading Only three scientists belonging to OIC countries have received Nobel Prizes in science, according to a paper released by a taskforce of international experts set up to report on the state of science in the Muslim world.

The Muslim World Science Initiative—a nongovernmental apolitical platform dedicated to a revival of science and a scientific culture within the Islamic world—set up the taskforce, chaired by Tan Sri Zakri Abdul Hamid, the Science Adviser to the Prime Minister of Malaysia. The group consisted of experts and scholars from around the world, including policymakers, vice-chancellors, deans and professors. According to its report, all three of the scientists lived and did their work that won them the Nobel Prize in countries outside the Muslim world.

The taskforce also assessed the state of science at universities in the Muslim world by reviewing the global rankings of universities in Islamic countries, the number of published and cited papers, the level of spending on research and development, female participation in the scientific workforce, and other indicators.

The figures on these indicators were compared to “aspirational” countries deemed comparable in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) per capita e.g. Brazil, Spain, South Africa and South Korea.

Though it noted recent improvements in scientific publishing across a number of countries and a relatively healthy gender ratio among university students, science in the Muslim world lags far behind when compared to other countries.

“While representing nearly 25 percent of the world’s people, the Muslim world contributes only 6 percent of the world’s academic publications, 1.6 Percent of the world’s patents, and 2.4 percent of the global research expenditure,” said the report.

It also found that fewer than a dozen universities of the Muslim world are in the top-400 and none in the top-100 of various world rankings such as QS World Rankings and Times Higher Education Rankings.

In terms of investments, the taskforce found that Muslim countries on average invest less than 0.5 percent of their GDP on research and development. Only Malaysia spends slightly more than 1 percent (the world average is 1.78 percent, while most advanced countries spend 2-3 percent).

Muslim-majority countries also have on av-

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erage about 600 researchers per 1 million of its population, and only Tunisia and Malaysia present solid and increasing numbers, at about 2,000. For comparison, Brazil has 1,000 and Spain has 4,000.

However, in an encouraging trend, the report stated that from the period 1996–2005 to 2006–15, most Muslim countries doubled or tripled their production of science papers with some countries showing far more striking increases. However, the numbers remain below the average of countries with similar GDP per capita.

Papers from the Muslim world are also cited less frequently than those from other nations. The average was 5.7 citations per paper for 2006–15, compared with 9.7 for South Africa and 13.8 for Israel. This may reflect lower quality or financial and reputational barriers to publishing, or both. In addition, a list of the 100 most-cited papers since 1900 published by Nature magazine earlier this year had none with a lead author from a Muslim-majority nation.

The report also found that students from the Muslim World on international preuniversity math and science tests fare very poorly, scoring well below average and sometimes alarmingly. Most countries have made no progress at all over the last decade or so, except for Qatar, Turkey and to some extent Iran, though they all remained well below average. Jordan and Malaysia also registered considerable declines.

Though there is considerable variation, a large proportion of students from Arab Muslim world opt for Masters degrees in the sciences (as many as 60-80 of all Masters degrees in countries like Jordan, Algeria, and Egypt) showing a preference for science careers.

Optimistically, the report found that the Muslim world has made a lot of progress

OIC Journal September - December 2015

on parity between genders in terms of enrolling into science degrees with several Muslim countries having significantly more women than men enrolled in tertiary education (such as Qatar 7:1, Bahrain 2:1 and Algeria 1.5:1). In this, Muslim countries leave behind several OECD countries such as the US and the UK. The report also includes wide ranging recommendations for universities, policymakers and governments to improve the status of science in the Muslim world. True transformation will require much broader action from ministries, regulators and funding agencies. The group also called on universities across the Muslim world to join a voluntary Network of Excellence of Universities for Science (NEXUS) that will be launched early next year.

The OIC’s General Secretariat, which is pursuing the agenda of advancing science, technology and innovation in OIC member states and the promotion of international scientific collaborations, is looking forward to working with members of the group and other international partners in relation to the taskforce’s specific recommendations within the remit of the mandate given to it

by OIC member states.

Dr Moneef Zou’bi, Executive Director of the Islamic World Academy of Sciences (IAS), an OIC-affiliated institution was also a member of the group.

The Muslim World Science Initiative is a nongovernmental apolitical platform dedicated to a revival of science and a scientific culture within the Islamic world. It seeks to go beyond historical facts and comparisons to spotlight, debate and address contemporary issues of policy and practice of science and innovation within the Islamic world that may not receive adequate attention in the international scientific media. It also seeks to address specific challenges emanating from religious, cultural, or historical factors.

According to its website “the initiative also aims to create a culture of dialogue, discourse and critical inquiry that is crucial to the development of a scientific culture in the Islamic world. In doing so, it also seeks to reclaim the narrative of science within the Islamic community—a narrative that in the recent years has been imposed from outside rather than created from inside—and hence begin an inside-out process of scientific revival within the Islamic world.”

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ECONOMY Need for Collaboration among

OIC Assistant Secretary General Amb. Hameed Opeloyeru

Dubai, UAE – There is a need to for collaboration among stakeholders to popularize Islamic financial products with a view to address the challenge of financial exclusion facing the people of OIC Member States.

This was the message delivered on behalf of OIC Secretary General Iyad Ameen Madani at the Global Islamic Economic Summit (GIES) held on 5-6 October in Dubai. The speech, which was delivered by Ambassador Hameed A. Opeloyeru, Assistant SecretaryGeneral (Economic Affairs) on Madani’s behalf, also highlighted that the OIC is mobilizing its Member States, public sector operators, members of the intelligentsia and research centers to fashion out ways of deepening their engagement in several areas of Islamic finance such as Islamic banking and finance, the Halal food and pharmaceutical industries, Islamic tourism, fashion and arts, and Islamic social finance.

The two-day event was inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Over 3,500 policymakers, thinkers and business leaders gathered to take part in the summit hosted by the Dubai Chamber, the Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre (DIEDC) and Thomson Reuters. Participants included visitors and stakeholders from the governmental, financial and investment sectors of over 85 countries worldwide The summit emphasized the need to integrate between Islamic investment sectors, accelerate the role of Islamic finance in building a sustainable future and strengthen the prosperity of national economies in general.

In his keynote address, the OIC Secretary General mentioned on-going activities to deepen partnership among various stakeholders and OIC institutions in the Islamic financial sector. He noted that although 95 percent of global assets on Islamic fi-

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Stakeholders to Popularize Islamic Finance nance were owned by OIC member states, the quantum of these assets, amounting to about US$2 trillion, was still modest compared to the global revenue figure of US$74.3 trillion.

Referring to the proposed workshop on micro-finance institutions scheduled for Khartoum in the first quarter of 2016, the Secretary General said the aim is to deepen understanding among national micro-finance institutions of the Islamic micro-finance models, while sharing knowledge on best practices, governance, standards and regulation issues.

On the development of the Halal Food industry, the Secretary General said the OIC has been encouraging the adoption of unified Halal food standards and agreed accreditation and certification procedures by all OIC member states, drawing from the mandates of relevant OIC institutions operating in this domain. To this effect, the up-coming stakeholders’ forum scheduled to be held in Jeddah on 9-10 December 2015 will represent a trailblazer in perfecting an intra-OIC action in this domain.

Furthermore, the summit was briefed on the successful convening of the 1st Islamic Tourism Forum held in Jakarta, Indonesia in June 2013 and efforts to consolidate on the momentum generated by this international exposition. In addition to expanding the scope of Islamic arts, fashion and crafts, the need to provide for the increasing number of Muslim travelers who require Sharia-compliant food and sporting and leisure facilities while staying in hotels also received adequate consideration. The imperative of revisiting the contribution of Islamic social finance products such as Zakah, Waqf and Sadaqah in addressing the challenge of financial exclusion in OIC member states was established, with the understanding that the Islamic Social Finance Report 2014, published by the Islamic Research and Training Institute (IRTI)

in collaboration with Thomson Reuters, has set the tone for further OIC action. Accordingly, the proposed forum on Islamic Finance scheduled for Albania in 2016 will review measures aimed at creating enduring frameworks for this initiative.

In efforts to continue facilitating the growth and development of the Islamic economy, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum also officially inaugurated “Salaam Gateway,” the first and only online platform for all Islamic economy-related industry intelligence, news, information and data. Insights and intelligence, in both Arabic and English, are provided by Islamic economy experts, analysts, and industry and thought leaders.

Following on from the previous summit, the Islamic Economy Awards took centre stage on the first day of the event. Awards were presented to recognize initiatives and ideas pertaining to eight key categories that have served to enhance bilateral trade and investment relations between Islamic nations.

Notably, Nobel Laureate and Founder of Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, Professor Muhammad Yunus, was the special guest of a conversation with CNN’s Middle East correspondent John Defterios on the power of social businesses.

On the question of harnessing talent within the Islamic economy, Yunus said, “The only answer is to create a new institution to serve the people that are underserved or never served … There needs to be an independent regulatory authority for microfinance in every country—pan-regional legislation will not work, it will only serve to encourage countries to start thinking about the poor and recognize that banking can be a solution to human problems.”

Salaam - The Global Islamic Economy Gateway can be accessed from www.salaamgateway.com.

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ECONOMY 8th Forum for Businesswomen in Islamic Countries Kampala, Uganda Over 130 individuals from 19 countries covering all OIC regions attended the 8th Forum for Businesswomen in Islamic Countries held under the theme of “Empowering Women Enterprises for Inclusive Growth” on 26-27 October 2015 in Kampala, Uganda.

The event—organized by the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (ICCIA) together with the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and the Uganda National Chambers of Commerce & Industry (UNCCI)—led to the Kampala Economic Declaration 2015.

Olive Zaitoun Kigongo, President of UNCCI, welcomed attendees in an address delivered at the opening of the two-day event in which she highlighted the strong relationship between UNCCI and ICCIA. She also underscored Uganda’s efforts to promote business and local products and build relationships with developing countries by sharing knowledge and experience through forums, workshops and trade fairs.

Kigongo further stressed the need to coordinate efforts with all stakeholders to achieve sustainable socioeconomic development of women and youth.

The opening was also addressed by Attiya Nawazish Ali, Assistant Secretary General of ICCIA, who highlighted the objectives of the forum and emphasized the need to share knowledge, best practices and knowhow among businesswomen and youth. She added that the forum is being held for the second time in Africa and that women in the continent have accomplished well.

Ali also said that inclusive growth has become a central idea in development and that women and youth are an important segment, if not the most important, of society. She added that the main objective is to ensure they are included in growth, regardless of their economic class, disability and religion.

The ICCIA Assistant Secretary General also said that her organization emphasizes strengthening the status of established businesswomen so that they can be in a better condition to mentor and help in assisting new business start-ups and young women to develop businesses. She said this is a long term perspective and the focus is on productive employment rather than merely direct income redistribution as a means of increas-

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ing income.

Five technical sessions with a bulk of the panelists being leading women from the world of commerce and industry were held over the course of the event: “Women Empowerment: African Case Studies,” “Potentials for Women & Youth Start-ups,” “Current Conditions of Businesswomen, Opportunities & Challenges,” “Finding Financing Solutions for Women Enterprises,” and “Internet as a Catalyst for Entrepreneurial Growth.”

The UNCCI also organized a 50-stall exhibition on the sideline of the forum in which major companies, institutions, banks, airlines as well as manufacturers of traditional handicrafts and garments displayed products and services. The exhibition was visited by participants and provided a colorful image of the advances of the local Ugandan industry and manufacturing sector.

Deliberations over the course of the two-day event led to “The Kampala Economic Declaration 2015” which was read out at the end of the event. The declaration recalled the useful contributions of the present forum and those preceding it in bringing OIC businesswomen together on issues of common concern. It further commended the ICCIA for providing a common platform for organizing these annual forums. It also declared that with the global Halal market expected to be worth US$1.6 trillion by 2018, food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics manufactur-

OIC Journal September - December 2015

ers should join hands with ICCIA to certify their products as Halal.

It also called on universities to enhance their courses and training on use of ICT for innovation and entrepreneurship development by establishing links with existing businesses, and called on businesswomen associations to complement the mechanism of reverse linkages through transfer of technology, knowledge and know-how to enhance cooperation among OIC countries.

It further called on the ICCIA and its member chambers to organize specialized forums, conferences, workshops and exhibitions to share best practices and facilitate linkages between local, regional and international organizations. It also appealed on the governments of OIC member states to play an active role in the activities of the ICCIA to enable it to increase its services for the benefit of the private sector within OIC member states.

The declaration emphasized the need to provide easy financing for women-led enterprises. The media within OIC Member States were called on to give due consideration to highlight the cause of women empowerment and publicize successful modules that would inspire youth and women startups.

The 9th Businesswomen Forum will be held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on May 22-23 2016, and the Sudan Businesswomen General Secretariat has offered to host the one after in 2017.

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ECONOMY

Workshop on Developing Women-led Enterprises through South-South Cooperation Kampala, Uganda – Some 44 participants from 11 OIC Member States attended a two-day workshop on cultivating womenled business partnerships among OIC countries on 28-29 October 2015 in Kampala, Uganda.

The event—entitled “Development of a Mechanism for Joint Ventures and Partnerships among Women-led Enterprises through South-South Cooperation”— was organized by the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture (ICCIA) in collaboration with the Perez-Guerrero Trust Fund (PGTF)/United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), and the Uganda National Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

Organizers said the expected outcome of the workshop was to accelerate the process of setting up Business Development Centers to cultivate business partnerships among OIC Member Countries beyond the 10 Centers that have already been established in Bangladesh, Iran, Egypt, Pakistan, Qatar, Sudan, Turkey, Uganda and Yemen.

Attendees included representatives from Bangladesh, Benin, Egypt, Iran, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Pakistan, Sudan, Tajikistan and Uganda. Also in attendance were Syed Shahid Husain and Christopher Paek from the United Nations Office for SouthSouth Cooperation (UNOSSC). Husain and Paek facilitated the participants’ understanding of the utilization and expansion of UNOSSC’s South-South Global Assets and Technologies Exchange (SS-GATE) platform and its “One Million Businesswomen of the Global South Online” (OMBOL) initiative.

The workshop opened with a welcome address by Attiya Nawazish Ali, Assistant Secretary General of ICCIA, who said that the objective was to create awareness of the potentials for SSGATE Country Business Centers and how best these could be utilized with proper business plans and partnership proposals.

She said that the ICCIA has been working with SS-GATE since 2006 as Participat-

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ing Organization, and spoke regarding the partnership between ICCIA and UNOSSC and the joint activities being undertaken in support and promotion of South-South cooperation.

In her opening remarks, Olive Zaitoun Kigongo, President of the Uganda National Chamber of Commerce & Industry, highlighted the special cooperation and strong working relationship between her organization and ICCIA. She also spoke about Uganda’s national efforts in the public and private sectors to uplift business, promote local products and create linkages with other developing countries by sharing knowledge and experiences through forums, workshops and trade fairs.

Syed Shahid Husain, Special Adviser at UNOSSC, briefed participants about the objectives of the workshop and gave an insight into the vision for the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through South-South cooperation activities and initiatives.

The workshop also delved on the status, experiences and expectations of SS-GATE Business Development Centers in ICCIA Member Countries. ICCIA, in coordination

with the SS-GATE Headquarters, has provided training to these centers to improve their capacity in business advisory services, effective utilization of the SS-GATE system and project development.

The centers register partnership proposals from local business enterprises, including those that are women-led. Following initial screening, the proposals are uploaded on the SS-GATE website and potential partners are identified.

Discussions on a new system that is being developed to make the centers self-reliant in their operations also ensued. Participants already running Business Centers welcomed the new system while attendees from new countries expressed interest in submitting proposals for similar ventures in their home countries. Once this materializes, the number of the Business Development Centers in OIC Member Countries could rise from the 10 to 14, with the prospect of more joining the network intermittently thereafter.

Discussions were also held on ideas to move forward, as well as sharing insight into the recent development on the work of the UN interagency task team on technology facilitation and its positive impact on the OMBOL initiative.

OIC Journal September - December 2015 55

ECONOMY Islamic Conference of Labor Ministers

Madani: Creating Youth Employment in OIC Countries Top Priority

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Jakarta, Indonesia – Ministers and heads of delegations from 35 OIC countries and two OIC Observer States attended the 3rd Islamic Conference of Labor Ministers (ICLM) in Jakarta, Indonesia on 29-30 October 2015.

The conference—held under the theme “Mainstreaming Youth Employment and Occupational Safety in OIC Member States”—saw discussions on joint action in creating employment opportunities and was specifically held to moot the implementation of resolutions of a previous conference held in Baku, Azerbaijan in 2013, and the OIC Framework for Cooperation on Labor, Employment and Social Protection.

The meeting also led to the adoption of a resolution urging OIC Member States to eradicate unemployment by creating opportunities for work and training.

OIC Secretary General Iyad Ameen Madani delivered a speech at the opening of the event in which he emphasized the significance of various projects on intra-OIC cooperation to address unemployment, low productivity and macro-economic instability.

Other speakers at the opening included Salim Muslumov, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population, and M. Hanif Dhakiri, Indonesia’s Minister of Manpower, in his capacity as Chairman of the 2nd Islamic Conference of Labor Ministers (ICLM). Muhammad

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Yusuf Kalla, Indonesia’s Vice President, officially declared the event open.

While reviewing the current strategies and action plans contained in the OIC Framework for Cooperation on Labor, Employment and Social Protection, the Secretary General implored attendees to demonstrate ownership of the framework by reflecting it in their programs of action and allocating adequate resources for its implementation. He also called for intra-OIC cooperation to create a conducive legislative and regulatory atmosphere for generating employment, training, social security, and labor and manpower exchange.

He also said that relevant OIC institutions have increased efforts in implementing OIC resolutions in the area of labor, employment and social protection, and cited projects being undertaken by the Statistical, Economic, the Social Research and Training Center for Islamic Countries (SESRIC), a subsidiary organ of OIC, and The Islamic Development Bank (IDB).

“It is important to bear in mind the fact that unemployment remains one of the most serious challenges to development in OIC Member States. In this regard, it is unfortunate to state that the OIC Member States, during the period 2000-2014, recorded higher unemployment rates compared to the world average,” he said.

The rate of youth and female unemployment in OIC Member States is also higher than the world average, said Madani.

“Unemployment is considered a major cause of social unrest, brain drain and movement of labor force to other countries. The challenge lies in funding mechanisms and possibilities, which can help the unemployed to participate in economic activities and integrate into society as economic and social actors,” he said.

Madani also drew attention to Palestine where the unemployment rate is the highest among the entire OIC community. He attributed this to the illegal occupation as well as Israel’s socio-economic blockade.

He therefore urged the Conference to adopt a special dispensation to facilitate

OIC Journal September - December 2015

better employment opportunities for Palestinian youth and vulnerable segments of the Palestinian population, including supporting programs in the area of vocational training, skill development and entrepreneurship.

He added that the proposal of the President of Azerbaijan to establish the OIC Labor Center in Baku as a specialized OIC institution has received positive responses from many OIC Member States. “In my view, this Center could adequately complement our on-going cooperation activities in the area of area labor, employment and social protection,” he said.

“Notwithstanding these programs and activities, the problems and challenges presented by labor and employment issues in our Member States are complex and multidimensional. They require the translation of our political decisions into national, regional and international actions on the ground through effective programs and projects,” he said.

In recent years, the average unemployment rate in OIC Member States fluctuated between 7.6 percent and 8.8 percent, while the world average unemployment rate remained around 7 percent. The average youth unemployment rate in OIC Member States reached 16 percent against the world average of 12.9 percent, and female unemployment in OIC Member States averaged 9.4 percent against 5.3 percent in other developing countries and 7.4 percent in developed countries. The rate of female unemployment is over 20 percent in some OIC Member States.

Resolutions were adopted at the end of the proceedings to strengthen intra-OIC cooperation in labor, employment, occupational health and safety, and labor productivity.

Presentations were delivered by SESRIC and the IDB on activities within the framework of the OIC Occupational Safety and Health Network (OIC-OSHNET), the OIC Public Employment Services Network (OIC-PESNET) and the Youth Employment Support (YES) Program. The 4th ICLM is scheduled to be held in 2017.

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ECONOMY COMCEC: OIC General Secretariat Committed to

Coordinating and Supporting Activities of its Institutions Istanbul, Turkey – The 31st Ministerial Session of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC) was held in Istanbul, Turkey on Wednesday 25th November 2015 with 57 member states, five observers and delegates of relevant OIC institutions and international organizations in attendance.

Chaired by President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the theme of the meeting was “Post-2015 Development Agenda and Development Challenges of the Islamic Ummah: Improving Basic Services Delivery.” Delegates discussed potential collaborative work and contributions member states could make to the Post-2015 Development Agenda.

They also addressed latest developments to improve cooperation among COMCEC member states and discussed a draft agenda adopted at the 31st Follow-up Meeting of the COMCEC held on May 13-14, 2015 in Ankara.

During his speech delivered at the opening, Secretary-General of the OIC Iyad Ameen Madani paid tribute to the activities of the OIC’s various institutions and stressed that the OIC General Secretariat would continue to closely coordinate these activities and support their executive programs.

“Permit me to also commend the increasing collaborative sprit among the various OIC institutions, which has generated the required momentum for the realization of the OIC joint action,” said Madani, while giving assurances that the OIC General Secretariat would continue to consolidate on these gains through closer coordination with its various institutions.

“In the same vein, the General Secretariat shall work assiduously to implement the decisions and recommendations of COMCEC, in its capacity as the executive organ of COMCEC and in closer collaboration with His Excellency the Chairman of this all-important OIC Standing Committee,” he added.

The OIC Secretary General also said that the input of Member States and OIC institutions in the new OIC-2025 Program of Action would result in a robust and inclusive agenda for socio-economic cooperation among OIC countries.

He added that intra-OIC trade has been increasing despite the OIC’s multilateral trade instrument, which seeks to remove qualitative and

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quantitative trade barriers, yet to come into effect.

He further congratulated Turkey on the recent nation-wide elections and appreciated the measures undertaken by the country in convening the COMCEC General Assembly each year. He also touched on efforts to establish an OIC Free Trade Zone, and that Halal Food Standards, Accreditation and Certification is one recent strategy to enhance intra-OIC trade.

In his speech, President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan stressed that the work carried out by the COMCEC should be done for the benefit of the Ummah and that though the global economy has not entirely overcome the economic crisis that began nearly seven years ago, the share in global trade of Islamic countries has increased by almost 40 percent within the past decade and that the OIC countries’ share in global output has increased by nearly 50 percent.

Erdogan said that though the potential of human and natural resources within OIC Member Countries is abundant, Member Countries still face challenges such as underdevelopment and poverty, and called on countries to be courageous in facing their issues and problems.

He said that poverty eradication is a challenge for Member Countries, and emphasized that they can play a significant role by using political will in an effective manner, adopting proper public policies, strengthening institutional and human capacity, and mobilizing financial resources.

Sideline Events

Meanwhile, as delegates discussed issues of economics and finance, a series of exhibitions were held on the sidelines of the event showcasing Islamic calligraphy, and historic images from Makkah and Madinah and the city of Al-Quds (Jerusalem).

The exhibitions relating to Islamic calligraphy and the cities of Makkah and Madinah were organized by the Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA), while the exhibition on Al-Quds were organized by the “Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries” (SESRIC). Both IRCICA and SESRIC are organs of the OIC. All of the exhibitions ran concurrently with the COMCEC event on 23-26 November 2015 and also with a workshop on exploring the tourism potential of Al-Quds organized by SESRIC in collaboration with the Palestinian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities on 24-25 November.

Over 100 photographs and works of calligraphy were on show for public viewing. The exhibitions covered three themes: “Exhibition of Calligraphy Masterpieces,” “Haramayn During the Ottoman Period – Historical Photographs Exhibition” and “Jerusalem (Al-Quds) Photographs – from Past to Present Exhibition.”

All of the calligraphy on display were selected from IRCICA’s International Calligraphy Competition and were produced by contemporary calligraphists with many of the pieces on canvas and intricately designed using illumination techniques and gilded with gold.

The section on the Haramayn showcased black and white images relating to the two holy cities from the Ottoman period whereas the section on Al-Quds was an amalgamation of contemporary color and historic black and white photographs.

OIC Journal September - December 2015 57

ECONOMY Encouraging Tourism to Al-Quds will Protect Al-Aqsa

Istanbul, Turkey : Encouraging tourism to Al-Quds Al-Sharif (Jerusalem) would support the Holy City, empower its people, and convey their sufferings and demands to the Muslim World in particular and to the international community in general, said OIC Secretary General Iyad Ameen Madani in a speech delivered on his behalf at an OIC workshop on exploring tourism held in Istanbul, Turkey on 24-25 November 2015.

The comments were delivered on behalf of Madani by Ambassador Hameed A. Opeloyeru, Assistant Secretary General for Economic Affairs, at the workshop entitled “Exploring Tourism Potential of Al-Quds AlSharif City.”

The two-day event was organized by the “Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries” (SESRIC), an OIC organ, in collaboration with Palestine’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities to allow participants to exchange views, knowledge and expertise to determine ways for tapping into the potential of Al-Quds’ tourism and formulate recommendations to

be presented at the 9th Session of the Islamic Conference of Tourism Ministers (ICTM).

Madani said that though tourism constitutes around 40 percent of the economy in Occupied Al-Quds, the sector is witnessing a recession as a result of low demand. “I wish to emphasize that collective responsibility demands that we work together on various programs and projects aimed at mobilizing resources, building experience and capacity and developing infrastructure and tourism support services in Palestine,” he said.

The OIC Secretary General also said there is a need for organizing media and cultural events to emphasize the Arab and Muslim identity of Al-Quds, mobilize international public opinion in support of Al-Quds and stand against the Occupation.

“This fatwa is in line with our call, which we repeat from this podium, to all the Muslims and the believers all over the world, to visit Al-Quds Al-Sharif and to pray inside it. This would emphasize the eternal attachment between Muslims and Al-Quds Al-Sharif and their right to freely access it and pray inside it, as this is a legitimate religious practice,

and an eternal right that is granted by international laws and resolutions,” he added.

The OIC Secretary General also stressed that Al-Quds should be visited through Jordan, in conjunction with Palestinian and Jordanian tour operators and travel agencies.

Ambassador Musa Kulaklıkaya, Director General of SESRIC, also delivered a speech at the opening session in which he underlined the tourism potential of Al-Quds Al-Sharif on account of its rich history, culture and heritage. He added that sustainable tourism development would empower Palestinians.

Speeches were also delivered at the opening by Ambassador Faed Mustafa, Ambassador of the State of Palestine in Turkey; Vehbi Dinçerler, Turkey’s Special Coordinator for Palestine and Former Minister of National Education; Nayef Al-Fayez, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities of Jordan; and Professor Mehmet Görmez, President of Religious Affairs of Turkey. Approximately 200 representatives from 30 countries, including governments, tourism operators, heritage organizations, transport companies and other private sector entities, attended the workshop.

Speakers also called on Muslims across the world to visit Al-Quds in line with the International Islamic Fiqh Academy’s fatwa in early 2015 on the permissibility of visiting the city as a way of highlighting the Palestinian cause and showing solidarity with the people of Palestine. The workshop consisted of four discussion sessions on tourism and heritage preservation in the city of Al-Quds.

22nd Meeting of the Board of Directors of the ICCIA Cairo, Egypt - ICCIA’s 22nd Board of Directors Meeting was held in Cairo, on 9th November 2015 in Cairo, Egypt, on the kind invitation of His Excellency Ahmed Al-Wakeel, President of the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce (FEDCOC).

The Meeting was held under the Chairmanship of Sheikh Saleh Abdullah Kamel, President Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture (ICCIA) and was attended by the Presidents and Representatives of Chambers of Commerce from Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Niger, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Turkey, Tunisia, Uganda and U.A.E. The Meeting discussed the forthcoming projects of the ICCIA namely, Halal Strategy and Excellency Award. H.E. Sheikh Saleh called upon the members to take active part in the activities and projects of the ICCIA, which are all focused for the benefit of the Private Sector.

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OIC Journal September - December 2015

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ECONOMY

Tangier: The City of Art and Beauty, Where the Past and the Present Coincide Tangier, Morocco DPA Turquoise and navy ocean waters mingle off the port of Tangiers, a physical embodiment of the way time coalesces as one strolls through the snaking alleys of the city.

Erstwhile writerly haunts can be found amid the labyrinth of an ancient medina, along with those of disavowed royalty and spies from Europe and beyond who flocked to the torrid city to scheme against each other.

Indeed, one of Tangiers› most famous scribes-cum-residents, Paul Bowles (author of «The Sheltering Sky»), wrote of it, «I am now convinced that Tangier is a place where the past and present exist simultaneously in proportionate degree, where a very much alive today is given an added depth of reality by the presence of an equally alive yesterday.»

the chaotic ramblings of its walkways.

what Burroughs called the “interzone”.

A gap in the plaza›s ancient Roman wall leads to a small bluff with views out to roiling ocean waters and, in the distance, the hazy coast of Spain. It can be reached with some luck and a sharp memory, following flights of stairs ever upward.

It is still possible, upon ascending the steps of the opulent Grand Hotel Villa de France that sits off the Gran Socco, to be directed to the room where Henri Matisse painted his windowscape looking out to the old city.

Along the way, amid pastel-hued piazzas, is the doorstep where Bowles was called on by the English punk band The Clash to write the lyrics to one of their songs, which led to their single Rock the Casbah.

Among the bustling markets and crowded cafes, it›s easy to get lost in Tangiers. Meandering the alleyways of the ancient Medina will keep any traveler occupied, but it›s worth having a couple of touchstones as a guide.

A visit to St. Andrew›s church, a modest chapel behind the Grand Mosque on Tangiers› central square, the Gran Socco, reveals a piece of the city›s embattled cultural history.

Tangiers, Africa›s most north-westerly city, has always been a strategic prize because of its situation on the Strait of Gibraltar.

Contested since the Roman Empire, and bouncing between European colonial powers for decades, Tangiers became an international zone jointly administered by France, Spain and Britain from 1923 to 1956.

The Medina is a dizzying jumble of buildings seemingly piled on top of each other and draped in a gleaming white mass over a hill overlooking the port. At the summit of the promontory, a plaza called the Kasbah provides a spacious counterpoint to

It was especially during this time that a parade of artists and diplomats coming through the city left their mark: Jack Kerouac, Truman Capote, William Burroughs, Susan Sontag and Mohamed Choukri are just a few to have found inspiration in

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What to see: St. Andrew›s Church, behind the Grand Mosque on Tangiers› central plaza, is a peaceful reprieve from the swirl of the city.

The caretaker, Yassine, is a fount of knowledge about the church›s cultural history.

Rue d›Angleterre 50.

Librarie des Colonnes is a multi-lingual bookstore founded at the apogee of the interzone literary period. Boulevard Pasteur 54.

Hammam Franco, in the middle of the ancient Medina, is a traditional bathhouse with no tourists in sight. Rue Cheikh Mohamed Ben Sekkid.

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ECONOMY IDB President Calls on OIC Member Countries to Exchange Expertise in Utilizing Islamic Finance to Develop SMEs

The President of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali, has called on OIC member countries and the World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF) to establish a working group that will study and exchange expertise in utilizing Islamic finance for the development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

President Ahmad Ali was speaking on Monday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, while addressing delegates to the 11th WIEF, taking place from 3-5 November 2015. The theme of this year’s event is “Building Resilience for Equitable Growth”.

“I suggest the immediate establishment of a working group, among OIC institutions and specialized business forums like WIEF, to study the ways and means of leveraging support by Islamic finance to SMEs, through research and exchange of expertise,” said the IDB President.

“Likewise, the partnership financing, the core element of Islamic finance, is an important source of funding for SMEs that can provide opportunities for entrepreneurship, jobs creation and income generation.”

“The growing sukuk industry at the global level gives a tangible evidence that Islamic finance will play a major role in develop-

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ment financing especially for large-scale infrastructure,” he added.

He told the participants, including Malaysian Prime Minister, HE Datuk Seri Najib Razak, and over 20 heads of states attending the WIEF, that the IDB Group is committed to providing solutions in the development of the requisite legal, regulatory, supervisory and Shari’ah frameworks for the development of SMEs. Dr. Ahmad Ali then commended the effort of OIC member countries like Turkey, which chairs the G20 presidency, for giving prominence to issues related to the private sector.

He stated that the presence of Turkey, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia, the three OIC Members in the G20, will pursue these initiatives and particularly the role of Islamic finance in ensuring more robust and inclusive growth.

The IDB President then lamented on the situation in the Muslim world; according to him, more than 90 percent of the 60 million people displaced due to conflicts and disasters globally are from OIC member countries.

He finally called on all multilateral development banks and government institutions to work towards mainstreaming Islamic finance, especially in mobilizing resources for

OIC Journal September - December 2015

the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

IDB held a sideline event on “Financial Inclusion for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals: Role of Islamic Finance” on 3 November. The IDB Group event was held in the context of the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), adopted at the UN Sustainable Development Summit in New York, in September 2015. The Summit on SDGs called on countries to work towards the reduction of extreme poverty by 2030, eliminate violence, reduce inequality and ensure inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

As Islamic finance has gained footprint in many countries worldwide, its various components have strong potential to promote financial inclusion for achieving SDGs. For this reason, the side event discussed how Islamic finance can be leveraged to boost financial inclusion for the realization of SDGs. It also discussed the contribution of financial institutions such as the Alliance for Financial Inclusion (AFI), and identified the opportunities presented by Islamic finance in enhancing financial inclusion and narrowing inequality.

“IDB Group has garnered enormous experience over the years in utilizing Islamic Finance to mobilize resources, and finance development projects that are relevant to the SDGs. We are willing to make our wealth of experience available to the participants at the World Islamic Economic Forum, for the benefit of humanity”, said Dr. Ali. The panelists discussed three sub-themes: (i) The role and importance of financial inclusion in achieving SDGs, (ii) The contribution of Islamic Finance in enhancing financial inclusion, and (iii) The role of financial institutions in promoting financial inclusion.

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ECONOMY IDB Group Launches Country Gateway Office in Dhaka, Bangladesh The People’s Republic of Bangladesh and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Group on 26 November 2015 signed a Host Country Agreement (HCA) for the launch of the IDB Group’s Country Gateway Office (CGO) in the capital city of Dhaka.

The document was signed between Bangladeshi Minister of Finance HE Abdul Maal A. Muhith and IDB Group President, Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali. At the signing ceremony which took place in Jeddah, KSA, Dr. Ali, praised 41 years of solid relations between IDB Group and Bangladesh as a founding and supportive member of the Bank. “Currently, the volume of approved IDB Group financings with Bangladesh stands at US $18.6 billion, the highest amount of financing ever approved by the 56 IDB member countries”, stated

Dr. Ali at the meeting. So far the approvals include major financings covering power, agriculture, irrigation, water supply, mining, roads, education and rural development as well as hundreds of foreign trade operations aimed at enhancing intra-trade amongst member countries.

The launching comes in the wake of a decision by the Board of Executive Directors of the Bank to establish CGOs in five member countries namely, Turkey, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Nigeria and Egypt. CGOs in Indonesia and Turkey are already operational and preparations are underway to see the formations streamlined in Nigeria and Egypt.

Elsewhere in his remarks, the IDB Group President further underlined that the decision to launch a CGO in Bangladesh is the culmination of several factors including the country’s outstanding and solid cooperation with the IDB Group, the high economic growth rate in recent years as well as the recent World Bank’s ranking of Bangladesh as the medium income countries. He further expressed hope that the CGO will leave a positive impact in increasing the continued cooperation between Bangladesh and the IDB Group.

Dhaka, Bangladesh

IDB and World Bank Chiefs Ink a Historic Partnership Deal support to the growing number of fragile and conflict-affected countries.

Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali

The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Group and the World Bank Group have announced a historic strategic partnership agreement to significantly scale-up joint work and investment across the 56 IDB Group member countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and South America that are also members of the World Bank.

The two leading development finance institutions expect co-financing work to reach $9 billion over the next 3 years. Joint work will support infrastructure services, regional integration and cross-border trade facilitation, water and food security, education and employment, and Islamic finance.

The IDB Group and the World Bank Group also agreed to join forces to support private sector development and entrepreneurship in common member countries, as well as

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This historic agreement comes on the heels of a joint initiative launched by the World Bank Group President, the United Nations Secretary General and the IDB Group President at an international gathering of donors held on 10 October 2015 in Lima, Peru, where a number of donor countries agreed to scale-up financial support to Arab countries going through transition and unrest.

The partnership agreement was signed on 18 October by IDB Group President, and World Bank Group President, Jim Yong Kim. “Our new partnership is a natural evolution in our long-standing relationship with the World Bank Group and is most timely given the growing challenges facing our member countries”, said Dr. Ali. The partnership agreement stems from a shared commitment by both institutions to reducing poverty, boosting shared prosperity, fostering economic development, and promoting social progress across their com-

mon membership and beyond, and to supporting the recently adopted United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

“We have definitely set for ourselves an ambitious partnership agenda because business-as-usual is not really an option. I am highly confident that both institutions will work diligently to deliver on development promises building on each other’s comparative advantages and strengths to unleashing the synergy that this strategic partnership can bring to our member countries”, observed Dr. Ali during the signing ceremony held at the World Bank Group headquarters in Washington DC in presence of the senior management and officials from both institutions.

Past co-financing between the IDB Group and the World Bank Group totaled over US $7 billion and targeted 72 projects, primarily the infrastructure sector, in 26 common member countries in Africa and Asia.

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occasions Photo-seminar on Black Kashmir Day Held at OIC General Secretariat The Pakistan Consulate in Jeddah, in conjunction with the OIC, held a photo-seminar to mark Black Kashmir Day and express solidarity with the people of Indian-occupied Kashmir on Monday 2nd November 2015 at the OIC General Secretariat in Jeddah.

The event was attended by OIC Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs Ambassador Abdullah Abdulrahman Alim, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ahmad Manzoor ul Haq, Pakistan’s Consul General in Jeddah Shehryar Akbar Khan, President of the Kashmir Committee Masoud Puri and the true representative of the people of Kashmir Ghulam Muhammad Safi.

In his opening speech, Alim - who is also the OIC Secretary General’s Special Representative on Jammu and Kashmir - reiterated the OIC’s support for the people of Indian-occupied Kashmir in their struggle for their legitimate rights. He also stressed OIC’s advocacy of protecting their civil rights, notably their right to self-determination.

Ambassador Manzoor ul Haq expressed his thanks and appreciation to the OIC General Secretariat and the Secretary General for their efforts to support the legitimate cause of Jammu and Kashmir in the international fora. He also warned against the continuation of violations and escalation of oppression against the people of Kashmir.

Consul General Khan said the event aims to highlight 68 years of Kashmiri suffering and coincides with the landing of Indian forces on 27 October 1947, in Jammu and Kashmir. He said that the issue has

OIC Day Celebration Held at UNESCO The OIC Group at UNESCO and the OIC Liaison office to UNESCO organized on 28 September 2015, the third Edition of the OIC Day celebration in UNESCO. The celebration aimed to reaffirm the strong commitment of the OIC and its Member states to intercultural dialogue in the context of the International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures.

The event included a round-table on “Rapprochement of cultures: the contribution of the Islamic World” which sought to promote, within the framework of the International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures (2013-2022), a constructive debate on a paramount issue for the peaceful coexistence among peoples and international stability and security. An exhibition on “Islamic Calligraphy” was also organized in collaboration with the Research Centre for Islamic Art, History and culture (IRCICA). This exhibition covers a selection of works of outstanding calligraphers today and reproductions of some of the winning plates at the nine International Calligraphy competitions organized by IRCICA during the last thirty-five years.

The round-table gathered distinguished panelists who highlighted that for centuries, Islam has been a thriving force and a fertile ground for the rapprochement of cultures, and provided a framework within which diverse cultures could prosper. They also exposed the current threats to cultural diversity and inter-cultural dialogue and explored ways and means to effectively promote and protect cultural diversity, respect for the other, and universalism.

In this respect, Mrs. Mehla Talebna, the OIC Director-General of Cultural Affairs, gave a presentation on the role of the OIC, as the collective voice of the Muslim world, in the rapprochement of cultures, highlighting the Organization’s objectives, achievements and challenges.

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COUNTRY PROFILE Niger

The Republic of Niger is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It is the largest nation in West Africa, with over 80 percent of its land area covered by the Sahara Desert, while much of the non-desert portions of the country are threatened by periodic drought and desertification.

Economy and Agriculture: The economy of Niger centers on subsistence crops, livestock and some of the world’s largest uranium deposits. Drought cycles, desertification, a 2.9 percent population growth rate, and the drop in world demand for uranium have undercut the economy.

Niger shares a common currency, the CFA franc, and a common central bank, the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO), with seven other members of the West African Monetary Union.

The agricultural economy is based largely on internal markets, subsistence agriculture and the export of raw commodities. Fourteen percent of Niger’s GDP is generated by livestock production (camels, goats, sheep and cattle), said to support 29 percent of

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Official name: Republic of Niger Capital: Niamey Population: 17.83 million (2013 statistics) Area: 1,267,000 km2 Official language: French Currency: West African CFA franc

the population. Thus 53 percent of the population is actively involved in crop production. The 15 percent of Niger’s land that is arable is found mainly along its southern border with Nigeria.

Along with the economy reliance on agriculture clustered in the more fertile south, Niger also depends on exporting raw materials, especially uranium ore. Nevertheless, Niger faces serious challenges to development due to its landlocked position, desert terrain, overpopulation, poor education and poverty of its people, lack of infrastructure, high fertility rates, poor health care and environmental degradation.

Religion and Culture: Islam was spread into what is known now as Niger in the beginning of the 15th century, by both the expansion of the Songhai Empire in the west, and the influence of the Trans-Saharan trade traveling from the Maghreb and Egypt. Tuareg expansion from the north, culminating in their seizure of the far eastern oases from the Kanem-Bornu Empire in the 17th centuries, spread distinctively Berber practices.

Nigerien culture is marked by variation,

evidence of the cultural crossroads which French colonialism formed into a unified state from the beginning of the 20th century. What is now Niger was created from four distinct cultural areas in the pre-colonial era: the Zarma dominated Niger River valley in the southwest; the northern periphery of Hausaland, made mostly of those states which had resisted the Sokoto Caliphate, and ranged along the long southern border with Nigeria; the Lake Chad basin and Kaouar in the far east, populated by Kanuri farmers and Toubou pastoralists who had once been part of the Kanem-Bornu Empire; and the Tuareg nomads of the Aïr Mountains and Saharan desert in the vast north.

Media: Niger began developing diverse media in the late 1990s. Prior to the Third Republic, Nigeriens only had access to tightly controlled state media. Now Niamey contains scores of newspapers and magazines; some, like Le Sahel, are government operated, while many are critical of the government. Radio is the most important medium, as television sets are beyond the buying power of many of the rural poor, and illiteracy prevents print media from becoming a mass medium.

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VIEWPOINT Refugees...Islamophobia...and Terrorism

Maha Mostafa Akeel Chief Editor

The strong rejection in some of these countries of refugees because of their religion and race clearly showed the escalation of Islamophobia, fueled and exploited by farright parties to win more parliamentary seats

The Syrian refugee issue emerged after large numbers of them fled towards Europe. Their tragedy occupied news headlines, especially after the publication of the photo of Iylan, the drowned child, that shocked the conscience of the international community. There were different reactions by European countries towards the refugees arriving to their borders. Some welcomed and some strongly opposed their arrival. The strong rejection in some of these countries of refugees because of their religion and race clearly showed the escalation of Islamophobia, fueled and exploited by far-right parties to win more parliamentary seats, which indicates further social tension in Europe and worsening of refugee problem there.

The terrorist events that took place in Paris that claimed the lives of many civilians and the arrest of some people who were planning to carry out terrorist acts in other European cities added insult to injury. There were attempts to link these acts to the arrival of refugees, which some saw as a means of infiltration of terrorists even though who committed the terrorist acts were European citizens and not immigrants or foreigners. It seems that France still struggles with how to deal with marginalized youth who resort to extremism and terrorism.

From Europe to the United States, hostility towards Muslims grew in a worrying manner embodied in the anti-Muslim political discourse in the presidential campaigns of some candidates. Many events, statistics and studies indicate growing hate discourse and incitement against Muslims, especially in the wake of the Paris events.

The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has paid particular attention to the issue of refugees in general and the Syrians in particular and closely followed the growing phenomenon of Islamophobia in the West. In this issue of the OIC Journal, we address the refugee issue in several reports. They include the emergency meeting held by the OIC General Secretariat at its headquarters in Jeddah to discuss the humanitarian crisis in Syria, and the tragedy of the Syrian refugees.

Also addressed is the subject of Islamophobia through reading the events relating to Syrian refugees in Europe and America.

On the other hand, this issue reviews many events that occurred during the period from August to November 2015. These include developments in the Palestinian Question, the situation in the Middle East and Africa, efforts to combat terrorism, and issues of development and human rights.

This issue includes a special report on the OIC meetings in New York during the seventieth session of the United Nations General Assembly as well as the Secretary General’s various initiatives and activities, which included the announcement of the establishment of a Messaging Center and Cyber Security Center in the framework of the fight against terrorism and addressing the allegations and propaganda launched by terrorist groups in the name of Islam. Believing in the importance of social and cultural development, a meeting was held in New York between the OIC and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. The OIC also held meetings with Muslim communities to listen to their views on Islamophobia in the United States and the role of women in society and ways to support them.

Moreover, the issue touches upon several important OIC ministerial conferences held during the period from August to November 2015. These include the 9th Session of the Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers in Muscat under the theme “Towards a Middle Stance Culture Favoring Muslim Societies’ Development” and the OIC Conference of Labor Ministers in Jakarta, which called for programs to reduce unemployment in the Muslim World. The Conference of Environment Ministers in Rabat called for the continuation of programs and activities related to the promotion, coordination and consultation with Member States, and competent national, regional and international bodies, especially in the area of​​ climate change, renewable energies, sustainable use of natural resources, management of ecosystem and biodiversity, disaster management, poverty alleviation and promotion of sustainable development mechanisms.

The Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) also held its 8th Regular Session at the General Secretariat headquarters in Jeddah under the theme “Freedom of Expression and Hate Speech”. Ambassador Ilham Abraham, Chairperson of IPHRC, indicated that despite freedom of expression expands democratic space and helps advance multi-cultural communities in order to achieve sustainable development, the irresponsible use of freedom of expression could have a devastating impact on the welfare of individuals and groups targeted. This would include denial of basic human rights, including the right to life and dignity.

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Hosts the thirteenth session of The Islamic Summit Conference

Of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Istanbul 14-15 April 2016