THE ORGANIZATION OF ISLAMIC COUNTRIES (IOC) | HISTORY AND GOALS | STRUCTURE | CRITICISMS



            The organization of Islamic conference, OIC, is an international organization with a permanent delegation to the UN. It has a membership of 57 states draws from the middle east, Africa, central Asia, the Caucasus, the Balkans, South East Asia, South Asia and South America. These are states that decided to come together, pool their resources. Combine their interests and ensure the progress and well being of their people and those of other Muslims all over the world. The official languages of the organizations are Arabic, Englina and French. 


History and Goals: Since the 19th century, many Moslems had aspired to serve their common political economic and social interest under an umbrella. Despite the presence of secularism, nationalist and socialist ideologies in modern muslim states, they have co-operated together on many founts. This culminated in the formation of the organization of Islamic conference. The formation of OIC came in the backdrop of the loss of Muslim holy sites In Jerusalem in series of conflicts between Israel and the Arab countries of the middle East. On 25th September, 1969, the leaders and representatives of Muslims nations met in Rabat, Sandi Arabia, to establish the Islamic organization.
            According to the chanter of the OIC, the aims are to
1.         To preserve Islamic social and economic values
2.         Promote solidarity amongst member states
3.         Increase co-operation in social, economic, scientific and political areas
4.         Uphold international peace and security and advance education particularly in the field of science and technology.

            In August, 1990, 45 Foreign ministers of the OIC met and adopted the Cairo Declaration on Human rights in Islamic to serve as a guidance for member states in the matters of human rights in as much as they are compatible with the Sharia-issues and development.
1.         The parliamentary union of the OIC was established in Iran in 1999 with its head office in Tehran. Only OIC members are entitled to membership of the union.
2.       In March, 2008 the US appointed a representative to the OIC, who in the words of George Bush, will listen and learn from representatives of Muslim states and will shame with them Americans views and values”
3.         Other concerns of the OIC include stopping Israel from any other form of excavation at the western wall near the Al-Aisa Mosque, Islamic third holiest shrine.
4.         How to send peace-keeping troops to Muslim States
5.         A possible change in the name and charter of the organization, to better serve its 21st century goals.
6.         Return of sovereign right to Iraq and the withdrawal of American and all foreign troops from Iraqu territory.
7.         New functional initiatives for the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Structure and organization of the OIC consist of the following:
1.         The Islamic Summit- which is the largest organ. The summit which holds every three years is attended by kings and heads of state and government of all member states.
2.         The Islamic conference of Foreign minister- which meets once a year to examine progress report on the implementation of the decisions taken within the framework of the policy defined by the Islamic summit.
3.         The permanent secretarial. This is the executive organ of the organization entrusted with the implementation of the other two bodies. The secretariat is located at the organizations headquarters In Jeddah Sandi Arabia.
4.         There are numerous standing committees and subsidiary organs and specialized institutions and afficiated institutions.

Criticisms of the OIC have been criticized on many fronts
1.         The OIC have been criticized for diverting its activities solely on Muslim minorities with majority non-Muslim countries but ignoring the plight of and maltreatment of ethnic minorities within majority Muslim countries such as the oppression of the kinds in Syria the Aliwaz in Iran, the Hazars in Afghanistan, the Baluchus in Pakistan. The Al Akhdan in Yanen and the Berbers in Algeria.
2.         The OIC have often maintained an unyielding anti-Semitic stance. Muslim leaders and clerics have never been able to hide their hatred of Israel. In both public and private speeches, in their actions and policies. Israel is often depicted as an enemy that needed to be dealt with. Many muslim leaders and heads of government described the destruction of the state of Israel as “an act pleasing to God and religion”.
3.         The 1993 OIC convention as combating international terrorirum has been described as vague, ambiguous and could be used to persecute political opponents and other undesirables. Human rights watch insists that the OIC is yet to embrace “long standing and universally recognized international human rights standards”
4.         The contradictions between OIC’s understanding and interpretation of terrorium  and that of other UN members states has hampered efforts of the UN to produce a comprehensive convention on international terrorium. Islamic countries largely have a light tolerance level for and a near romantic notion of terrorium. It need be pointed out though that not Islamic countries or leadership tolerates terrorist activities against other states became some Islamic states have been victims of terrorist. However, a good number of them supports and assists terrorist activities against those they perceive as enemies.
5.         Human rights watch states that the OIC fights within the UN to shield states from criticism within the UN human rights council except when it come to criticism of Israel, following the 2006 Israeli war against Hezbollah In Lebanon, OIC members absolve Hezbollah and Lebanon of any wrong doing while accusing Israel of numerous violations. Such glaring hypocrisy and bias portrays the OIC as an unserious organization.
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