Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Head-office Building, Jeddah
TheOrganisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC;Arabic:منظمة التعاون الإسلامي,romanised: Munaẓẓamat at-Taʿāwun al-ʾIslāmī;French:Organisation de la coopération islamique), formerly theOrganisation of the Islamic Conference, is anintergovernmental organisation founded in 1969.[1] It consists of57 member states, 48 of which areMuslim-majority.[2] The organisation claims to be "the collective voice of theMuslim world" and works to "safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promotinginternational peace and harmony".[3]
Member states had a collective population of over 1.8 billion as of 2015,[2] accounting for just under a quarter of the world's population. The collective area is 31.66 m km2.[4]
History
On 21 August 1969, after theAl-Aqsa mosque fire inJerusalem,Amin al-Husseini, the former Mufti of Jerusalem, called for a summit of all Muslim heads of state.[5] The fire destroyed part of the old wooden roof and an 800-year-old pulpit.[6]The arsonist was an AustralianChristian fundamentalistDenis Michael Rohan.[7]On 25 September 1969, representatives of 24 Muslim majority countries met inRabat, Morocco.[5][3] A resolution was passed stating that Muslim governments would henceforth strive for close cooperation and mutual assistance in economic, scientific, cultural and religious endeavors.[5]
In March 1970, the First Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers was held inJeddah, Saudi Arabia.[7] In 1972, the Organisation of the Islamic Conference was founded.[8]
While theal-Aqsa fire is regarded as one of the catalysts, manyMuslims aspired to a pan-Islamic institution that would serve the common political, economic, and social interests of theummah (Muslim community) beginning in the 19th century. In particular, the collapse of theOttoman Empire and theCaliphate afterWorld War I left a vacuum.[citation needed]
According to its charter, the OIC aims to preserve Islamic social and economic values; promote solidarity amongst member states; increase cooperation in social, economic, cultural, scientific, and political areas; uphold international peace and security; and advance education, particularly in science and technology.[3]
The OIC emblem contains three main elements that reflect its vision and mission as incorporated in its Charter: theKaaba, the Globe, and the Crescent.[citation needed]
On 5 August 1990, 45 foreign ministers of the OIC adopted theCairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam to provide guidance in matters of human rights in as much as they are compatible withSharia (Quranic Law).[9]
In March 2008, the OIC revised its charter to promote human rights, fundamental freedoms, and good governance in member states. The revisions removed any mention of the Cairo Declaration. Within the revised charter, the OIC supported theCharter of the United Nations andinternational law, without mentioning theUniversal Declaration of Human Rights.[11]
On 28 June 2011, during the 38th Council of Foreign Ministers meeting (CFM) in Astana, Kazakhstan, the organisation changed its name from Organisation of the Islamic Conference (Arabic:منظمة المؤتمر الإسلامي;French:Organisation de la Conférence Islamique) to its current name.[12] The OIC also changed its logo at this time.[citation needed]
Head of TatarstanRustam Minnikhanov at the 15th OIC Summit in Gambia on 4 May 2024
According to theUNHCR, OIC countries hosted 18 million refugees by the end of 2010. OIC members continued to absorb refugees from other conflicts, including2011 uprising in Syria. In May 2012, the OIC addressed these concerns at the "Refugees in the Muslim World" conference inAshgabat, Turkmenistan.[13]
On 27 June 2007, then-United States PresidentGeorge W. Bush announced that the United States would delegate an envoy to the OIC. Bush said of the envoy, "Our special envoy will listen to and learn from representatives from Muslim states, and will share with them America's views and values."[14] As of June 2015[update], Arsalan Suleman is acting special envoy. He was appointed on 13 February 2015.[15] In an investigation of the accuracy of a series of chain emails,Snopes.com reported that during the October 2003 – April 2004 session of the General Assembly, 17 individual members of the OIC voted against the United States 88% of the time.[16]
The OIC, on 28 March 2008, joined the criticism of the filmFitna byDutch lawmakerGeert Wilders, which features disturbing images of violent acts juxtaposed with alleged verses from theQuran.[24]
At a 2013 meeting inConakry, Guinea, Secretary-GeneralEkmeleddin Ihsanoglu said that foreign ministers would discuss the possibility of cutting ties with any state that recognisedJerusalem as the capital of Israel or that moves its embassy to its environs.[29]
At a December 2017 extraordinary meeting held in response US PresidentDonald Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem, the "Istanbul Declaration on Freedom for Al Quds". was adopted.[30]
Pakistan citesits conflict with India over the Kashmir region as its rationale. It frequently accuses India of perpetratinghuman rights abuses against Kashmiris in the Indian-administered territory ofJammu and Kashmir. The region has experienced anongoing militant uprising since the 1980s.[38] The OIC has been urged to press India on the Kashmir dispute, and has faced pushback from Indian officials for occasional references to Jammu and Kashmir.[35] Historically, the Muslim world has largely lent its support to Pakistan on the issue.
The first OIC summit held in 1969 inRabat did not address the dispute, while granting India membership was discussed. The head of the Indian delegation addressed the summit. The erstwhilePresident of Pakistan,Yahya Khan, reportedly expressed mixed views. The Indian delegation, led by thenIndian PresidentFakhruddin Ali Ahmad, was scheduled to attend the summit but ultimately was not allowed in due to Pakistan's controversial boycott threat. Differences between the two states led Pakistan to keep India out for the final session of the 1969 conference and all OIC subsequent summits.[39]
After these events,Indian Foreign MinisterSushma Swaraj was invited to participate in an OIC summit.[40] However, Pakistan protested this development and demanded that India be blocked from the event, accusing the latter of an unprovoked violation of Pakistani airspace while Indian officials claimed that the strike was carried out on terrorist-training camps.[41][42] Following requests by Pakistan shortly after the 14 February attack, the OIC held an emergency meeting on 26 February.[43] The organisation subsequently condemned India's military response to the attack and advised both sides to exercise restraint.[44]
For the first time in five decades, theUnited Arab Emirates invited India as a "guest of honour" to attend the inaugural plenary 46th meeting of OIC foreign ministers inAbu Dhabi on 1 and 2 March 2019, overriding protests by Pakistan.[45] In response Pakistan boycotted the meeting. Indian Foreign Minister Swaraj headed the Indian delegation at the summit.
On 18 April 2020, OIC issued a statement, urging theModi administration of India to take urgent steps to "stop the growing tide ofIslamophobia", citingattacks byHindu nationalists against Indian Muslims and the allegation against Muslims of spreadingCOVID-19 in the country.[46]
Cartoons of Muhammad, published in a Danish newspaper in September 2005, offended a number of Muslims. TheThird Extraordinary Session of the Islamic Summit Conference in December 2005 condemned publication of the cartoons, resulting in broader coverage of the issue by news media in Muslim countries. Subsequently, violent demonstrations throughout the Islamic world resulted in multiple deaths.[47]
Human rights
OIC created theCairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam.[9] Proponents claim it is not an alternative to theUDHR, but rather complementary to it. Article 24 states that "all the rights and freedoms stipulated in this Declaration are subject to the Islamic Shari'ah" and Article 25 follows with "the Islamic Shari'ah is the only source of reference for the explanation or clarification of any of the articles of this Declaration." Attempts to have it adopted by theUnited Nations Human Rights Council met criticism, because of its contradiction of the UDHR, including from liberal Muslim groups.[48] Critics of the CDHR state bluntly that it is "manipulation and hypocrisy," "designed to dilute, if not altogether eliminate, civil and political rights protected by international law" and attempts to "circumvent these principles [of freedom and equality]."[49][50][51]
Human Rights Watch says that OIC "fought doggedly" and successfully within the United Nations Human Rights Council to shield states from criticism, exceptcriticism of Israel. For example, when independent experts reported violations of human rights in the2006 Lebanon War, "state after state from the OIC took the floor to denounce the experts for daring to look beyond Israeli violations to discussHezbollah's as well. OIC demands that the council "should work cooperatively with abusive governments rather than condemn them." HRW responded that this works with those who are willing to cooperate; others exploit the passivity.[52][53]
Along with OIC's 2008 charter revisions, the member states created the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC). The IPHRC is an advisory body, independent from OIC, composed of eighteen individuals from diverse educational and professional backgrounds. IPHRC has the power to monitor human rights within the member states and facilitates the integration of human rights into all OIC mandates. IPHRC also aids in the promotion of political, civil, and economic rights in all member states.[55]
In December 2018, the OIC tentatively raised the issue ofChina'sXinjiang internment camps andhuman rights abuses against the Uyghurs.[57] The OIC reversed its position after a visit to Xinjiang, and in March 2019, the OIC issued a report on human rights for Muslim minorities that praised China for "providing care to its Muslim citizens" and looked forward to greater cooperation with the PRC.[58][59] In December 2020 a coalition of American Muslim groups criticised OIC for failing to speak up to prevent theabuse of the Uyghurs and accused member states of being influenced by Chinese power. The groups included theCouncil on American-Islamic Relations.[60]
In March 2012, theUnited Nations Human Rights Council held its first discussion ofdiscrimination based onsexual orientation and gender identity, following the 2011 passage of a resolution supportingLGBT rights proposed by theRepublic of South Africa.[61] Pakistan's representative addressed the session on behalf of the OIC, denouncing the discussion and questioning the concept of sexual orientation, which he said promoted "licentious behaviour ... against the fundamental teachings of various religions, including Islam". He stated that the council should not discuss the topic again. Most Arab countries and some African countries walked out of the session.[62][63][64]
The Astana Declaration is a policy guidance adopted by OIC members at the Astana Summit. The Astana Declaration commits members to increase investment in science and technology, education, eradicate extreme poverty, and implement UNSustainable Development Goals.[69]
Non-state terrorism
In 1999, OIC adopted the OIC Convention on Combatting International Terrorism.[70] Human Rights Watch reported that the definition of terrorism in article 1 describes "any act or threat of violence carried out with the aim of, among other things, imperiling people’s honour, occupying or seizing public or private property, or threatening the stability, territorial integrity, political unity or sovereignty of a state." HRW described this as vague, ill-defined, and including much that is outside the generally accepted concept of terrorism. In HRW's view, it labels, or could easily be used to label, as terrorist actions, acts of peaceful expression, association, and assembly.[71]
Legal scholarBen Saul argued that the definition is subjective and ambiguous and concluded that it left a "serious danger of the abusive use of terrorist prosecutions against political opponents" and others.[72]
HRW is concerned by OIC's apparent unwillingness to recognise as terrorism acts that serve causes endorsed by their member states. Article 2 reads: "Peoples' struggle including armed struggle against foreign occupation, aggression, colonialism, and hegemony, aimed at liberation and self-determination." HRW suggested that OIC embrace "longstanding and universally recognised international human rights standards",[71] a request that has not led to any results.[citation needed]
During a meeting in Malaysia in April 2002, delegates discussed terrorism but failed to reach a definition of it. They rejected, however, any description of thePalestinian fight with Israel as terrorism. Their declaration was explicit: "We reject any attempt to link terrorism to the struggle of the Palestinian people in the exercise of their inalienable right to establish their independent state with Al-Quds Al-Shrif (Jerusalem) as its capital." In fact, at the outset of the meeting, the OIC countries signed a statement praising the Palestinians and their "blessedintifada." The word terrorism was restricted to describe Israel, whom they condemned for "state terrorism" in their war with the Palestinian people.[73]
At the 34th Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (ICFM), an OIC section, in May 2007, the foreign ministers termedIslamophobia "the worst form of terrorism".[74]
Dispute with Thailand
Thailand responded to OIC criticism of human rights abuses in theMuslim majority provinces ofPattani,Yala, andNarathiwat in the south of the country. In a statement issued on 18 October 2005, secretary-generalIhsanoglu vocalised concern over the continuing conflict in the south that "claimed the lives of innocent people and forced the migration of local people out of their places".[75] He stressed that the Thai government's security approach to the crisis would aggravate the situation and lead to continued violence.
On 18–19 April 2009, exiled Patani leader Abu Yasir Fikri was invited to the OIC to speak about the conflict and present a proposal to end the violence between the Thai government and the ethnically Malay Muslims living in the neglected south. The group has been struggling against Thai assimilation policy and for self governance since the area was annexed by Thailand in 1902. Fikri presented a six-point solution at the conference that included obtaining the same basic rights as other groups when it came to rights of language, religion, and culture. He suggested that Thailand give up its discriminatory policies against the Patani people and allow Patani to at least be allowed the same self-governing rights as other regions in Thailand, citing that this does not go against the Thai constitution since it had been done in other parts of Thailand.[76] He criticised the Thai government's escalation of violence by arming and creating Buddhistmilitia groups and questioned their intentions. He added that Thai policies of not investigating corruption, murder, and human rights violations perpetrated by Bangkok-led administration and military personnel was an obstacle for achieving peace and healing the deep wounds of "third-class" citizens.[76][77]
Thaiforeign ministerKantathi Suphamongkhon said in response: "We have made it clear to the OIC several times that the violence in the deep South is not caused by religious conflict and the government grants protection to all of our citizens no matter what religion they embrace." The Foreign Ministry issued a statement dismissing the OIC's criticism and accusing it of disseminating misperceptions and misinformation about the situation in the southern provinces. "If the OIC secretariat really wants to promote the cause of peace and harmony in the three southern provinces of Thailand, the responsibility falls on the OIC secretariat to strongly condemn the militants, who are perpetrating these acts of violence against both Thai Muslims and Thai Buddhists."[75][78][79] HRW[80] and Amnesty International[77] offsered the same concerns as OIC, rebuffing Thailand's attempts to dismiss the issue.
Notable meetings
Various OIC meetings have attracted global attention.
Ninth meeting of PUOICM
The ninth meeting of Parliamentary Union of the OIC member states (PUOICM) was held on 15 and 16 February 2007 inKuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[81] The speaker of Malaysia'sHouse of Representatives,Ramli bin Ngah Talib, spoke at the inaugural ceremony. One main agenda item was stopping Israel from continuing its excavation at theWestern Wall of theTemple Mount / Masjid Al-Aqsa, Islam's third holiest site.[82] OIC also discussed how it might send peacekeeping troops to Muslim states, as well as the possibility of a name change and charter changes.[82] Return of the sovereignty right to the Iraqi people along with withdrawal of foreign troops from Iraq was another one of the main agenda items.[83]
Pakistani Foreign MinisterKhurshid Mahmud Kasuri stated on 14 February that the secretary general of OIC and foreign ministers of seven "like-minded Muslim countries" would meet inIslamabad on 25 February following meetings ofPresident Musharraf with the heads of Muslim countries to discuss "a new initiative" for the resolution of theIsraeli–Palestinian conflict.[84]
The September 2014's high-level Summit of the OIC, inNew York, ended without adopting any resolutions or conclusions, for the first time in several years, due to a dispute regarding the status of one of its Observer states.Egypt,Iran and theUnited Arab Emirates demanded that the OIC remove the term 'Turkish Cypriot State' in reference to the unrecognisedTurkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), which had observer status within the organisation. Egypt's presidentAbdel Fattah el-Sisi insisted that any reference to the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus or Turkish Cypriot State" was unacceptable and was ultimately the reason for the OIC not adopting any resolutions or conclusions in the 2014 summit.[86][87][88]
On 5 August 2024 Iran called for an emergency meeting of the OIC on 7 August because it wanted to drum up support for its war against Israel in the wake of the Tehran assassination ofHamas leaderIsmail Haniyeh.[90][91]Jeddah,Saudi Arabia hosted the meeting, and Iran's foreign ministerAli Bagheri saidAyatollah Khomeini has no other choice but to use his right to self-defense. Other participants raised concerns about a wider regional conflict and Bagheri's motion failed to carry.[92]
The largest meeting, attended by theheads of state andgovernment of the member states, convenes every three years.[clarification needed] The Islamic Summit takes policy decisions and provide guidance on all issues pertaining to the realisation of the objectives as provided in the Charter and consider other issues of concern to the Member States and the Ummah.[95]
Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers meets once a year to examine a progress report on the implementation of its decisions taken within the framework of the policy defined by the Islamic Summit.
The Secretary General is elected by the Council of Foreign Ministers for a term of five years, with a maximum of two terms. The Secretary-General is elected from among nationals of the Member States in accordance with the principles of equitable geographical distribution, rotation and equal opportunity for all Member States with due consideration to competence, integrity and experience.[97]
Permanent Secretariat
The Permanent Secretariat is the executive organ of the Organisation, entrusted with the implementation of the decisions of the two preceding bodies, and is located inJeddah, Saudi Arabia.
OIC has been criticised by many Muslims for its lack of engagement and solutions for Muslim countries in crisis.[99] It is said to have made progress in social and academic terms but not politically.[99]
In 2020, Pakistan's Minister of Foreign AffairsSM Qureshi criticised OIC for its stand with regard toKashmir issue.[100]
^Orakzai, S. (April 2010). "Organisation of The Islamic Conference and Conflict Resolution: Case Study of the Kashmir Dispute".Pakistan Horizon.63 (2: Security Concerns in South and West Asia):83–94.JSTOR24711087.
^Sager, Abdulaziz (10 October 2009)."Why not India in OIC".Kjaleej Times.Archived from the original on 20 February 2023. Retrieved1 March 2019.
^Orakzai, Saira Bano (2010). "Organisation of The Islamic Conference and Conflict Resolution: Case Study of the Kashmir Dispute".Pakistan Horizon.63 (2):83–94.ISSN0030-980X.JSTOR24711087.
^[4] OIC says «NO» to «Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus»
^Al Arabiya reporters. (11 November 2023). "Arab, Muslim leaders slam Israel at Saudi-hosted summit on Gaza".Al Arabiya EnglishArchived 24 November 2023 at theWayback Machine Retrieved 24 November 2023.
Al-Huda, Qamar. "Organisation of the Islamic Conference".Encyclopedia of Islam and the Muslim World. Edited by Martin, Richard C. Macmillan Reference, 2004. Vol. 1. p. 394, 20 April 2008.
