2011-12-30
US, OIC collaboration on religious tolerance: changing times
On Monday, Dec. 19, 2011, the UN General Assembly passed a path-breaking resolution supporting religious tolerance. The resolution, passed by the joint efforts of the US and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), points to the increasing collaboration between the two. The resolution has been in the making for some time and is part of an effort by Muslim states to get Western states to combat growing Islamophobia in the post-9/11 world. read more
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2011-12-29
The OIC's Xenophobic Publicists in the United States
At the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), ever since Professor Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu became secretary-general of the organization in 2005, engaging with the relevant US authorities and gaining publicity within American public opinion have continued to be priorities. After all, the OIC and the United States should be and are natural allies in dealing with a wide range of issues, which include countering inter-ethnic and intra-religious violence in both Iraq and Afghanistan as elsewhere, combating racial and religious discrimination, promoting moderation and modernization, improving mother-child health in OIC member states, encouraging the participation of women in politics, improving human rights conditions and female equality, as well as many other existing and emerging issues. The US has a vested interest in each and every single one of these areas, and the OIC is the legitimate, credible and able political body to partner with as it too shares the same interests. read more
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2011-12-29
Book Review - Crescent and Dove: Peace and Conflict Resolution in Islam
Crescent and Dove — edited by Dr. Qamar ul Huda and including contributions from other Muslim scholars and peace practitioners — carries an essence of contemporary Muslim scholarship and helps great deal to correct many misapprehension and fallacies by spotlighting the misperception that Islam is an intrinsically dictatorial religion, so not compatible with democratic freedom. The work does not make a direct search into the underlying roots of tolerance within Islam but shows them in action in different parts of the Muslim world. read more
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2011-12-20
U.N. Tackles Religious Intolerance without Limiting Free Speech
Yesterday, in an historic vote, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on combating religious intolerance. The novelty of this text is that it does not include the harmful concept of “defamation of religions.” Instead, the General Assembly resolution calls on governments to speak out and to condemn hatred, while encouraging open debate, human rights education, and interfaith and intercultural initiatives. read more
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2011-09-06
Where is the Organization of Islamic Cooperation headed?
In the final analysis, the debate over the OIC should have started long ago. After İhsanoğlu became the secretary-general of the OIC, the concerned elements of the OIC member states started to seriously discuss the structure, vision, goals and operation of the organization. It is a very good development that this debate has been adopted and joined by the publics of its member states. In fact, even this development itself is a clear indication that the OIC's future will be brighter than its past. It is hoped that this debate will remain immune to the black propaganda and attempts to settle personal scores, and that it will become ever more constructive. Similarly, it is hoped that while addressing what needs to be done, what has already been done is not ignored. read more
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2011-01-24
OIC: A quest for reform across the Muslim world
Amid these tensions, Secretary-General İhsanoğlu’s structural and substantial overhaul of the OIC has gone mostly unnoticed both in the member and non-member states, if not deliberately ignored. Probably, his most important contribution was the shift of a paradigm that defines the very existence of the OIC. He has transformed the OIC’s institutional purpose of existence from the one that is defined by the past grievances of its member states and that aims to reactively guard against the repetitions as such, to the one that is future oriented and that aims to proactively make the Muslim world a constructive and integral part of the international community. read more
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2008-10-28
Danish Daily Jyllands Posten Interview with the OIC Secretary General
First of all let me be very clear on one point. We are neither against criticism of any religion nor calling for banning criticism of religions. History of religions, including Islam, is a history of criticism and debates, which led to the formation of different sects and schools of thought. These debates have always been there at the academic, scholarly, or theological level. As for the debates, which are conducted at the level of public opinion, we have no problem with any criticism, as long as they are objectives, fair and conducted in a responsible manner. read more
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2006-03-01
OIC: A Voice for the Muslim World?
Not one but many voices of the “middle way” have to emerge to reflect the rich diversity as well as the multifaceted concerns and anxieties of Muslim communities the world over. This is what is happening in different parts of the Muslim world. Countless Muslim organizations, small and big, conservative and liberal, local and international, are converging on the necessity of such platforms where the voices of moderation, wisdom, mercy, and serious thinking can flourish. They are seeking the “middle path” to make sense of everything from the Danish cartoon saga to the mindless killings in Iraq. read more
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