JEDDAH, 3 April — Delegates attending a two-day meeting in Jeddah on the conditions of Muslim minorities expressed deep concern over the “continued violation of basic rights and freedoms” of the Muslim communities in various parts of the world and called for solutions to the problems these Muslims continue to face.
The plight of Muslim minorities and communities in non-Islamic countries was discussed by an intergovernmental experts group assigned by the Organization of the Islamic Conference.
The meetings which ended yesterday called on OIC members to seek appropriate solutions to the problems of these minorities, the majority of whom live in the Asian continent.
According to an OIC report, Muslims in non-Muslim countries number more than 450 million out of a total Muslim population of 1.4 billion. Asia with 278 million Muslims accounts for more than half of that figure. It is followed by Africa (74 million), Europe (52 million) and the Americas (13 million).
The expert group was set up five years ago by Muslim foreign ministers at their annual conference in the West African republic of Guinea.
Secretary-General Dr. Abdelouahed Belkeziz, who opened the meeting, called on government institutions and Islamic organizations to encourage Muslim minorities to establish institutions that care for members of their communities in order to protect them from assimilation into other cultures.
“The protection of the rights of Muslim minorities and communities in non-member states remains a chief priority of the OIC which is working vigorously through direct contact with the concerned governments to alleviate the sufferings of these people and protect their rights as citizens of these countries,” said Dr. Belkeziz.
The group elected Muhammad Faiz Al-Sharif of Saudi Arabia as its chairman. Over the coming days its members will study the report by the OIC secretary-general on the conditions of Muslim minorities.
They will also seek to formulate recommendations to help member states implement a plan of action. (AWB)
