APPEAL OF CONSCIENCE
FOUNDATION
January 31, 2012
H.E. Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu
General Secretary
Organization of the Islamic Cooperation
Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Your Excellency,
We express our appreciation for your leadership, in the adoption of the UN Human Rights Council Resolution no. 16/18 in March 2011 and the UNGA Resolution no. 66/167 “Combating Intolerance, Negative Stereotyping and Stigmatization of, and Discrimination, Incitement to Violence and Violence Against, Persons Based on Religion or Belief” adopted by consensus in December 2011. The resolutions exemplify the resolve of the international community to address manifestation of religious hatred, intolerance and discrimination without placing bans on free speech. This was accomplished with the cooperation of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Your Excellency as well as the support of the OIC members under your guidance. We at the Appeal of Conscience Foundation are gratified by this development.
At a time when multiculturalism, freedom of religion and peaceful co-existence of civilizations and cultures face multiple challenges in various parts of the world, the Appeal of Conscience Foundation is concerned about the increasing wave of xenophobia. We deem Islamophobia, discrimination and intolerance against Muslims, as a worrying challenge that should be confronted by the international community. We appreciate your position against and condemnation of senseless and heinous crimes committed by extremists targeting other religious communities and their places of worship. Your condemnation of the recent attacks targeting worshippers attending Christmas services in some churches in Nigeria and previous statements against attacks on Christians in Egypt reflect your principled position.
We commend your condemnation of an attack against a Jewish seminary in Jerusalem and your statements and position against Anti-Semitism. Your invitation of Mrs. Hannah Rosenthal, U.S. Special Envoy and head of the Office to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, to address the OIC sponsored Conference “Islam and Muslims in America” held in Chicago last September sends a strong message of your condemnation of all types of religious hatred.
Your Excellency, may I call to your attention the Appeal of Conscience Foundation initiated UN Resolution A/55/L.81 of 2001, condemning attacks against religious sites, which was also adopted by consensus. You may recall my address in Doha at the Fourth Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations, where I said, “the worldwide economic slowdown, the high rate of unemployment particularly among the young and the polarization of society are fertile grounds for scapegoating ‘the other’. It expresses itself in Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Christianophobia, and anti-Semitism.”
Let us continue to work together based on our longtime cooperation and friendship to promote mutual understanding, tolerance and interreligious harmony on a national, regional and global basis and further this effort within the framework of the Alliance of Civilizations and World Interfaith Harmony Week.
Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of our highest consideration and my warm personal regards.
Cordially yours,
Rabbi Arthur Schneier
President
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