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.