The 12th Islamic Summit Conference at foreign ministers level was held in Cairo, Egypt on February 6 and 7, 2013 in which Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu warned against the growing phenomenon of extremism and violence in a wide region of the Muslim world. Ihsanoglu called the Member States to work side by side to eradicate extremism, reminding them of the Ten-Year Program of Action adopted at the third Extraordinary Islamic Summit in Makkah in 2005, which called for moderation. The Organization of the Islamic Cooperation has 57 members, 56 of which are classed by the United Nations as member states. Some, especially in West Africa, are - though with large Muslim populations - not necessarily Muslim majority countries. A few countries with significant Muslim populations, such as Russia and Thailand, sit as Observer States, while others, such as India and Ethiopia, are not members. The US is also to be granted the status of observer state.
The summit marked distinction from previous sessions in the sense that Muslim leaders made major decisions to face up the current challenges and pave the way for a better future for the ‘Ummah’. The decisions covered political, economic, socio-cultural and science and technology issues including issues concerning conflict areas in the Muslim world, the situation of Muslim minorities in non-member states, combating Islamophobia, promoting human rights, enhancing intra-OIC trade and investing in scientific research.
The summit was hailed at peak timing when the Islamic world is passing through political havocs, socio-economic turmoil and escalating ideological conflicts pivoted on intra-religious differences. Egypt suffers endless civil disorder; Syria is entangled amidst political chaos, following the Arab spring, at the price of thousands of lives and rich infrastructural losses without leading to fruition yet. The Muslim ethnic group Rohingya in Myanmar faces the harshest atrocities and suffers great repression and marginalization. Formerly, the endless dispute between Israel and Palestine resulted in Israel repression leading to hundreds of life losses. These are common and deep rooted issues of Muslim world.
The rhetoric made in the summits can’t do away the endemic problems of Muslim world, unless their leaders don’t change their obsolete insight entailing paradigm shift in their thinking perspectives and begin pursuing the latest scientific and technological advancements with inclusion to adoption of a rational system of governing. Muslims being resources sufficient, suffer multifaceted endemic socio-political and religious problems.
The world’s 1.6 billion Muslims have produced only two Nobel laureates in chemistry and physics. Both moved to the West: the only living one, the chemist Ahmed Hassan Zewail, is at the California Institute of Technology. By contrast Jews, outnumbered 100 to one by Muslims, have won 79. The 57 countries in the Organization of the Islamic Conference spend a frail 0.81% of GDP on research and development, about a third of the world average. America, which has the world’s biggest science budget, spends 2.9%; Israel lavish 4.4%. Without having changed the flawed perception about science and scientific theories, Muslims can’t lay stress on modern education. If modernism emphasizes on democracy a better system of government, freedom of thought and freedom of expression vital for innovative creations and exposure of truth, everyone granted due position based on his potential and capabilities and due position of women in a society be ensured, all should not only be accepted but practiced uninterrupted.
Having completed 44 years since its establishment on September 25, 1969, till date no practical measure has been taken by OIC, in addressing the most genuine problems of Muslim world. According to its charter, the OIC aims to preserve Islamic social and economic values; promote solidarity amongst member states; increase cooperation in social, economic, cultural, scientific, and political areas; uphold international peace and security; and advance education, particularly in the fields of science and technology. Negligible practical measure is observed relative to gigantic list of provisions that were to be undertaken by OIC.
In June 2008, the OIC conducted a formal revision of its charter. The revised charter set out to promote human rights, fundamental freedoms, and good governance in all member states. Within the revised charter, the OIC has chosen to support the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and international law. Contrary to the assertions made meager human rights is observed in most, if not all, OIC member countries.
Muslims have earned international fame in pretext to terrorism, extremism and fanaticism. If you have got a Muslim name, you are in trouble and put to thorough scrutiny at entrances, particularly if you would be tripping a Western country. Al-Qaida the sole, reason for such notorious fame, still seeks covert financial and political support from some of wealthy Muslims countries.
Intra-religious conflict is another dimension; some of Muslim countries are exploiting the sectarian affiliation of concerned sectarian group to further their political interests in another fellow country. There are several countries where the hostility of majority sect towards minority has reached to the point of no return, that the opposite sect is publically labeled infidel and worthy of butchery. Can OIC come forth to address these pressing issues on emergency basis?
Accepting, Islamophobia is a contemporary form of racism and discrimination to be used against Muslims. It is true that Islamophobia is being pursued by a group of extremist and radical elements in the West who bear an inexplicable grudge against Islam and Muslims. It is also fact that they have a motivated agenda of hatred and racial discrimination, stereotyping and stigmatization of Islam and Muslims. Without being at fault nobody dares to raise finger at anyone. It is undeniable fact that some of the most wanted terrorists are harbored by some countries and enjoy covert patronage. It can’t be the only way to seek a political gain, but there are several other routes to sustainable progress and advancements.
It is not the only role of OIC to expose the dangerous game of the Islamophobes and the perilous implications of their actions to the international community. It is the utmost responsibility of OIC member countries to lay down severe punishment for anybody accused of any act leading to earn infamy for Muslims. The Islamophobia and its propaganda machine will automatically be perished. But OIC member states have to apply strict rational laws be it domestic or international in curbing all menaces that tarnish their real image.
Strengthening the socio-cultural and economic ties between the member states, granting free visa for tourists, sportsman, traders, students, labors, assuring exchange of professionals and skilled human resource, silencing the escalating sectarianism and denouncing extremism and terrorism accompanied with practicable stances taken against all such evils might buy a modern disposition and altered outlook for more progressive “OIC” lying ahead.