The New Vision rejects extremism and fanaticism and has unequivocally set forward strategies to combat Islamophobia in the West and address the political, economic, social and cultural root causes of extremism through development programmes and the resolution of long-standing conflicts. The New Vision places great emphasis on inter-civilizational and inter-faith dialogue - where the OIC and its specialized institutions would serve as proactive partners, promotes cooperation among Member States to develop an educational curriculum that emphasizes an understanding of all faiths and targets the greater utilization of the mass media to promote tolerance.
To address rising ethnic tensions and misunderstanding between Europe and the Islamic World, the Wilton Park Conference on “Challenging Stereotypes in Europe and the Islamic World: Working together for Constructive Policies and Partnerships” was organized in association with the OIC in London in May 2006. The conference brought together senior policy-makers from Europe and
OIC Member States, UN, EU, OSCE and Council of Europe officials, academics, experts and representatives of Muslim communities. A major report on the outcome of the conference, including the way forward, has been published.
To promote better understanding of Islamic history and culture, the Research Center for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA) participated in a series of collaborative Symposiums on Islamic Civilization in the regions of Southern Africa (Johannesburg, 2006), Balkans (Bucharest, 2006), South and Southeast Asia, West and East Africa, Caucasia, Volga Ural region and the Middle East. Further symposiums are scheduled for the Gulf, North Africa and Central Asia (Almaty, Kazakhstan, 4-7 September 2007). To further the understanding of the contributions of Islam towards modernity and inter-civilizational dialogue, the IRCICA published a book titled “Cultural Contacts in Building Universal Civilization: Islamic Contributions” in 2005.
To advance inter-civilizational and inter-faith dialogue, the OIC has participated at the highest-level in all major international forums on the issue in Tunis, Vienna, Doha and Johannesburg. Additionally, the OIC Secretary General (SG) participated in the Alliance of Civilizations high-level meeting (Doha, February 2006) and conference (Istanbul, November 2006), outlining necessary measures through talks with the Secretary General of the UN and the Arab League, the Prime Ministers of Spain and Turkey and the Foreign Ministers of Qatar, Spain and Turkey.
Additionally, to press forward on inter-civilizational dialogue through institutional level collaboration, the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) agreed in July 2006 to convene a series on sub-regional seminars, international workshops and international conferences on a range of related topics including strategies for strengthening mechanisms of peace and prevention of clashes.
To counter religious and sectarian extremism, strengthen balance, moderation and tolerance, coordinate religious ruling (fatwa) authorities in the Muslim world and refute fatwas that take Muslims away from the parameters and constants of their religion and its established schools, the New Vision has outlined the preparation of a detailed study by members of the Islamic Fiqh Academy (IFA) and eminent Islamic scholars.
To develop a balanced educational curriculum in OIC Member States and an unbiased interpretation of Islam in Western textbooks, the ISESCO and IRCICA are continuing to examine history textbook used in schools of various countries with a view of having them corrected, in cooperation with the Council of Europe. Additionally they have called for the revision of European textbooks with regards to their treatment of the histories of the Muslim nations.
To utilize the mass media to improve the image of Islam, The Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) in cooperation with relevant OIC institutions, will take steps towards establishing private media corporations including the renting of channels.
