JEDDAH, 20 November 2005 — The Intergovernmental Group of Experts (IGGE) of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), which is chaired by Saudi Arabia, is drafting an Islamic covenant on combating racial discrimination. It will highlight the inherent tolerance of Islam and the religion’s rejection of all forms of discrimination. The IGGE recommendation will be submitted to the ordinary session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (ICFM) in Azerbaijan next year.
“This provides the IGGE with a rare opportunity to make it clear to the whole world that Islam, with its noble tenets and lofty ideals represents a significant turning point in the history of humanity,” OIC Secretary-General Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said addressing the 11th session of the IGGE at OIC headquarters here. In the speech, read by Ambassador Izzat Mufti, assistant secretary-general for political affairs, Ihsanoglu explained that bigotry and racial discrimination against Muslims were still rife and were now and then fuelled by attempts to defame the religion. There were double standards in international relations, foreign occupations, arbitrary economic measures and embargoes against certain countries, and exploitation of technology to disseminate Islamophobia.
“Colonial settlements and foreign occupation constitute a form of discrimination, xenophobia, exclusion and bigotry,” he said.
He stressed that in such a situation the international community must build relations based on upholding equality and dignity and making this century a time for establishing human rights for all, eliminating all forms of discrimination, and fostering a new climate for equal opportunities.
The secretary-general said it was a good sign that the international community today was more than ever aware of the need for dialogue between civilizations and cultures. “This will naturally lead to the recognition of diversity and acceptance of the other until the phenomenon of racial discrimination has been eliminated,” he added.
Ihsanoglu reaffirmed that the OIC was determined to pursue its efforts in order to achieve the objectives enshrined in its charter which include the elimination of racial discrimination. “The OIC considers the whole of humanity as one family of equal members in the original sense of human dignity ... ,” he explained.
