Organization of the Islamic Conference
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Member Members once temporarily suspended Withdrew Observer Attempted to join but blocked
The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC; Arabic: منظمة المؤتمر الإسلامي Munaẓẓamat al-Muʼtamar al-Islamiyy; Turkish: İslam Konferansı Örgütü or İslam Konferansı Teşkilatı; French: Organ de la Conférence Islamique; Indonesian: Organisasi Konferensi Islam; Malay: Pertubuhan Persidangan Islam; Persian: سازمان کنفرانس اسلامی; Urdu: سازمان کنفرانس اسلام) located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia is an inter-governmental organization with a Permanent Delegation to the United Nations. It groups 57 nations, most of which are Islamic, in the Middle East, North, West and Southern Africa, Central Asia, Europe, Southeast Asia, South Asia and South America. It is the second largest international organization after the United Nations.[citation needed] The official languages of the organization are Arabic, English and French.
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[edit] History and goals
The primary goals of the OIC are, according to its Status, "to promote solidarity among all Islamic member states."
The OIC was set up in Rabat, Morocco, on September 25, 1969 in reaction to an arson attack against the Al-Aqsa Mosque on August 21, 1969.
The flag of the OIC (shown above) has an overall green background (symbolic of Islam). In the center, there is an upward-facing red crescent enveloped in a white disc. On the disc the words "Allahu Akbar" are written in modern Arabic calligraphy.
On August 5, 1990, 45 foreign ministers of the OIC adopted the controversial Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam to serve as a guidance for the member states in the matters of human rights.
[edit] Recent Issues
The Parliamentary Union of the OIC member states (PUOICM) was established in Iran in 1999 and its head office is situated in Tehran. Only OIC members are entitled to membership in the union.[1]
President Bush announced on June 27 2007 that the United States will establish an envoy to the OIC. Bush said of the envoy ``Our special envoy will listen to and learn from representatives from Muslim states, and will share with them America's views and values. [2]
[edit] Ninth meeting of PUOICM
The ninth meeting of the Council of PUOICM was held on 15 and 16 Feb 2007 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[3]. Speaker of Malaysia's House of Representatives, Ramli bin Ngah Talib, delivered a speech at the beginning of the inaugural ceremony. OIC secretary-general Prof Dr Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said prior to the meeting that one main agenda item is stopping Israel from continuing its excavation at the Western Wall near the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam's third holiest shrine.[4] OIC is also discussing how it might send peacekeeping troops to Muslim nations,[5] and the possibility of a change in the name of the body as well as its charter.[6] Additionally, return of the sovereignty right to the Iraqi people along with withdrawal of foreign troops from Iraq is another main issues on the agenda.[7]
Pakistani Foreign Minister Khurshid Kasuri told reporters on 14 February 2007 that the Secretary General of OIC and foreign ministers of seven “like-minded Muslim countries” will meet in Islamabad on 25 February 2007 following meetings of President Musharraf with heads of key Muslim countries to discuss “a new initiative” for the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Kasuri said this will be a meeting of foreign ministers of key Muslim countries to discuss and prepare for a summit in Mecca to seek the resolution of the Arab-Israeli conflict.[8]
[edit] Structure and Organization
The OIC system consists of:
[edit] The Islamic Summit
The largest organ, attended by the Kings and the Heads of State and Government of the member states, convened every three years.
[edit] The Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers
It meets once a year to examine a progress report on the implementation of its decisions taken within the framework of the policy defined by the Islamic Summit.
[edit] The Permanent Secretariat
It is the executive organ of the Organization, entrusted with the implementation of the decisions of the two preceding bodies, and is located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Current secretary general of this international organization is Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, from Turkey, since January 1 2005.
[edit] Standing Committees
- Standing Committee on Information and Cultural Affairs (COMIAC).
- Standing Committee on Economic and Trade Cooperation (COMCEC).
- Standing Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (COMSTECH).
- Islamic Committee for Economic, Cultural and Social Affairs.
- Permanent Finance Committee.
- Financial Control Organ.
[edit] Subsidiary Organs
- The Statistical, Economic, Social Research and Training Center for Islamic Countries (SESRTCIC), located in Ankara, Turkey.
- The Research Center for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA), located in Istanbul, Turkey.
- The Islamic University of Technology, located in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
- The Islamic Center for the Development of Trade, located in Casablanca, Morocco.
- The Islamic Fiqh Academy, located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- The Executive Bureau of the Islamic Solidarity Fund and its Waqf, located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- The Islamic University of Niger, located in Say, Niger.
- The Islamic University of Uganda, located in Mbale, Uganda.
[edit] Specialized Institutions
- The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), located in Rabat, Morocco.
- The Islamic States Broadcasting Organization (ISBO) and the International Islamic News Agency (IINA), located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
[edit] Affiliated institutions
- Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI), located in Karachi, Pakistan.
- World Islamic Economic Forum (WIEF), located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
- Organization of Islamic Capitals and Cities (OICC), located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- Sports Federation of Islamic Solidarity Games, located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
- Islamic Committee of the International Crescent (ICIC), located in Benghazi, Libya.
- Islamic Shipowners Association (ISA), located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- World Federation of International Arab-Islamic Schools, located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- International Association of Islamic Banks (IAIB), located in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- Islamic Conference Youth Forum for Dialogue and Cooperation,(ICYF-DC)located in Istanbul, Turkey.
[edit] The Secretary General of the OIC
- H.R.H. Tunku Abdul Rahman (Malaysia): (1971-1973)
- H.E. Hassan Al-Touhami (Egypt): (1974-1975)
- H.E. Dr. Amadou Karim Gaye (Senegal): (1975-1979)
- H.E. Mr. Habib Chatty (Tunisia): (1979-1984)
- H.E. Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada (Pakistan): (1985-1988)
- H.E. Dr. Hamid Algabid (Niger): (1989-1996)
- H.E. Dr. Azeddine Laraki (Morocco): (1997-2000)
- H.E. Dr. Abdelouahed Belkeziz (Morocco): (2001-2004)
- H.E. Prof. Dr. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu (Turkey): (2005 to present)
[edit] Members
Note: The table can be sorted alphabetically or chronologically using the "><" icon.
[edit] Membership attempts
- Image:Flag of India.svg India - has the third largest Muslim population in the world and had shown its interest in joining the OIC, as an observer nation. While India's candidature is supported by several OIC members including Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Iran and Egypt,[1] some influential OIC members like Pakistan have blocked India's inclusion into the OIC. They argue that though India is home to more than 135 million Muslims, they form just over 13% of India's total population. Another major factor affecting India's induction into the OIC is the Kashmir dispute. Some prominent members of the OIC support the Pakistani claim over the entire region of Kashmir.[2] Also, India established full diplomatic relations with Israel in 1992 and reduced its support for the Palestinian cause. Relations between India and OIC severed in 2001 when the latter criticised India for not doing enough to stop the alleged human rights violations against Muslims in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, and again in 2002 over the lack of intervention in the Gujarat riots, which left approximately 2000 Muslims dead. India rejected the charge saying the OIC did not have "locus standi" on matters relating to India's internal affairs.[3]
- Image:Flag of the Philippines.svg Philippines - The Philippine government has made attempts to join the OIC, but was opposed by its Muslim minority of the state. Muslims make up only 5% (4.5 million) of the 90 million population in this predominately Catholic country.[4]
[edit] Past Islamic Summit Conferences
[edit] Economy
The OIC members have a combined GDP (at PPP) of $7,840 billion. The richest country on the basis of GDP per capita is State of Qatar at $62,181 per capita. The Gulf Cooperation Council has a combined GDP of over $750 billion and will touch $1,000 billion by 2010. It is economically comparable to anywhere in the developed world.
[edit] Notes
- ^ An Indo-Arab blunder?
- ^ OIC supports Pakistan on Kashmir, The Hindu, Saturday, 18 October 2003. (accessed on 10 December 2006)
- ^ India Rejects OIC Resolution on Kashmir
- ^ Metro Broadcast Corp, Filipino Muslims oppose Manila's bid to join OIC, 24 May 2006
[edit] See also
|
Organization of the Islamic Conference | |
|---|---|
- Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam
- Islamic University of Technology
- International Islamic Relief Organization
- List of OIC countries by population
- Abdullah O. Nasseef
[edit] External links
- Official The Organization of the Islamic Conference
- Official Islamic Conference with documents and information from the latest Summit (Arabic, English, French)
- UN Organization of the Islamic Conference
- April 14 2006: Intifada Conference In Tehran Has Multiple Objectives Radio Free Europe, Radio Liberty
- December 12 2005: Guardian Unlimited - An extraordinary meeting Brian Whitaker
- April 15 2005: Dinar Standard - Is Intra-OIC Trade finally taking off?
- October 18 2003: speech from Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad speech at the 10th OIC Summit
- September 5 2003: Fredrick Töben Speaks at Iran's Intifada Conference National Vanguard
- September 14 2001: statements from the Organization of Islamic Conference
- May 26 2001: OIC Calls for Suspension of Ties with Israel CNN Archives
- The Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRTCIC)
az:İslam Konfransı Təşkilatı bn:অর্গানাইজেশন অব ইসলামিক কনফারেন্স da:Organization of the Islamic Conference de:Organisation der Islamischen Konferenz es:Organización de la Conferencia Islámica fa:سازمان کنفرانس اسلامی fr:Organisation de la conférence islamique hr:Organizacija islamske konferencije id:Organisasi Konferensi Islam it:Organizzazione della Conferenza Islamica he:ארגון המדינות האסלאמיות ms:Pertubuhan Persidangan Islam nl:Organisatie van de Islamitische Conferentie ja:イスラム諸国会議機構 no:Den Islamske konferanse pt:Organização da Conferência Islâmica ru:Организация Исламская конференция fi:Islamilainen konferenssi tr:İslam Konferansı Örgütü ur:موتمر عالم اسلامی wo:Mbootaayu Réewi Jullit yi zh:伊斯兰会议组织
