OIC calls for global action against Islamophobia

ANKARA

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Friday called on the global community to step into action against rising Islamophobia.

The declaration, issued following an emergency meeting of the OIC in Istanbul, called on the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and Human Rights Commissioner of the Council of Europe to establish an observatory to monitor violence and hatred towards Muslims.

"OIC is outraged with the savage terrorist attack which took lives of 50 Muslim worshippers at al-Noor Mosque and Linwood Mosque on March 15, 2019 in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand; and reiterates the OIC’s position that terrorism has no religion, and that any acts of terror are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever, and by whoever committed,” the declaration said.

"OIC is deeply worried about the resurgence of racist movements and their terrorism in multiple regions of the world, based on concocted history, imagined inter-civilizational conflict and confrontation, and intent on inciting phobia, hatred and hostility against immigrants and individuals from Muslim nations, thereby imperiling future prospects of peace and harmony among the nations and communities of the world,” it added.

The declaration welcomed the visit of Turkish Vice-President Fuat Oktay and Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, upon the instruction of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, to New Zealand "to emphasize the common resolve against Islamophobia and xenophobia and to highlight the solidarity with the Muslim community and New Zealand in the face of these heinous terror attacks."

New Zealand PM’s stance hailed

Addressing the attack in New Zealand as "horrendous and despicable Islamophobic terrorist attack", the declaration said it condemned the attack "in the strongest possible terms."

The OIC said it appreciated "unequivocal condemnation of the terrorist attacks, in particular the firm and clear stance of the Prime Minister of New Zealand [Jacinda Ardern], who embraced the Muslim community and shared their grief."

The organization stressed that it fully supported New Zealand in its commitment for a thorough and fully transparent investigation into the terror attacks.

The declaration also called for comprehensive and systematic measures to combat Islamophobia.

The OIC called on the United Nations and other international and regional organizations to adopt March 15 as the “International Day of Solidarity Against Islamophobia”.

The statement said it “firmly rejects all presumptions of guilt or attributions of potential crimes, extremism and terrorism to ordinary Muslims, who sincerely adhere to, express and follow the basic requirements of Islamic tenets and teachings”.

It also requested the OIC Secretary-General Yousef Al-Othaimeen to engage the management of social media platforms -- including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram -- in order to filter or ban any content that encourage hatred and violence against Muslims.

In addition, the OIC called on the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to convene a special meeting of UN General Assembly to declare Islamophobia as a form of racism.

A week ago today, at least 50 Muslims were killed and as many injured when a terrorist -- identified as Australian-born Brenton Tarrant, 28 -- entered the Al Noor and Linwood mosques in Christchurch and shot worshippers in cold blood, including four children younger than 18.