JEDDAH, 3 May 2006 — With today being the World Press Freedom Day, the Organization of the Islamic Conference issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to press freedom.
“The OIC considers press freedom to be an integral part of civil liberties that should be guaranteed and respected in all countries,” read the statement.
“In view of its connection with the democratic system, the absence of this freedom has a negative impact on good governance and therefore on development, which cannot take place in the absence of public freedoms. One of the characteristics of these freedoms is that they raise public awareness in society. They help establish transparency and accountability between the ruler and ruled, and combat corruption,” the statement said.
The OIC has always underscored the importance of ensuring freedoms for all, chief among which is the freedom of expression. The organization has demanded that journalists performing their professional duties be protected.
However, the pan-Islamic organization said that with freedom comes responsibility. “The publication of the blasphemous caricatures of the Prophet (peace be upon him) last September and its ramifications, have provided each and everyone with the absolute evidence of the consequences of non-abidance by these regulations,” the statement said.
“Therefore, the organization demands that an international legislation or a code of conduct be issued affirming the need to prevent dissemination of hatred, premeditated defamation and incitement of denigration,” it added.
