الفهرس

‮The Organization of the Islamic Conference

as a key supporter of the Alliance of Civilizations

Initiative and the efforts devoted to fighting

International Terrorism

Ambassador. Ufuk Gokcen*

Madam Moderator,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

For the OIC General Secretariat the topic of this session represents a very crucial challenge, therefore it is high on our agenda.

Firstly, I would like to inform you that today is the International Day of Tolerance.

Therefore, I will read out the message of the OIC Secretary General Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu on the occasion of the International Day of Tolerance, as I believe that it will provide us with certain ideas that we can benefit in our discussions, then I will make some comments and proposals.

And I quote:

“Today we are observing the International Day of Tolerance in such a juncture when practicing tolerance has become the most important and significant tool of bringing sustainable peace and stability to the world.

At present, the World we live in is witnessing a sharp increase of intolerance, prejudice and hatred among different cultures and civilizations. Today, Muslims around the world are the first victims of intolerance. They are facing a campaign of hatred and prejudice, what is otherwise known as Islamophobia. This growing trend of Islamophobia has subjected them to discrimination including religious profiling and stereotyping. The right to freedom of speech is being used irresponsibly to defile the sacred symbols of Islam.

This looming danger that poses a great threat to peaceful coexistence among civilizations has to be addressed immediately by developing a culture of tolerance, understanding, appreciation and acceptance of the diversity of civilizations. To achieve this goal, strong political commitment on the part of the world community is a must.

The Organization of the Islamic Conference has always strongly spoken out against and condemned all acts of intolerance and extremism. I firmly believe that the right to practice religion is a basic human right and is protected by International Law. I also believe that the right to freedom of speech while sacred should be used in a responsible manner so as not to impinge on the rights of others. It is high time that the international community considers enacting legal measures against defamation of religions and religious beliefs. I would urge the Alliance of Civilisations and the Human Rights Council to take pro-active action in this regard.

On this occasion, I would like to reiterate our call for historical reconciliation through meaningful dialogue substantiated by political engagement for encouraging tolerance and promoting mutual understanding among civilizations.

Today, let us take a fresh resolve to shun intolerance and prejudice and embrace tolerance in a spirit of understanding and appreciation of the diversity that makes up the human society. It falls on us to leave for our future generations a world to live in peace, love and harmony. Let us work together towards that cherished goal.

Ekmelleddin Ihsanoglu, Jeddah 16 November 2007” end of quote

Ladies and Gentlemen,

At the OIC Secretariat, we see intercivilizational and interfaith dialogue and promotion of moderation as one of the tools to overcome the scourge of extremism.

However, we do not see that the tool is being properly benefited from.

We are of the opinion that there is a need for the official authorities and politicians to assume ethically and morally righteous and responsible attitude in front of the masses, when discrimination and intolerance against Muslims, and defamation of Islam as a religion and denigration of its most revered symbols are condoned under the exercise of freedom of expression and press, in a way to surmount time to time to explicit and calculated incitement to hatred.

We do not want to suggest that discrimination and intolerance is targeting only Muslims. Basically, we are referring to the relevant reports of the relevant monitoring centers of the UN, EU, OSCE and Council of Europe which are pointing to the growing trend of Islamophobia and we are asking for recognition of this phenomenon by the Western politicians.

At the same time, we assure the international community of the OIC General Secretariat’s willingness and commitment to cooperate against all other forms of discrimination and intolerance including rising anti-western sentiments among the Muslims.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Under the present global challenges, the role or need of intercivilizational and interfaith dialogue has increased tremendously. The increasing popularity of the Alliance of Civilizations project; to which we are committed is a pertinent evidence of what is needed.

However, at the same time we believe that Intercivilizational and Interfaith dialogue over the last 40 years have not produced the desired outcome.

Can we or should we conclude that lack of proper political support is the reason for this failure?

From the perspective of the OIC, to make dialogue initiatives successful, we need political engagement, which will reach out to the grassroots. Ultimately, the call of the OIC Secretary General for a historical reconciliation between the proper institutions of the Christian and Islamic world could also be instrumental in showing us the way forward. Within this spirit, we have high expectations from the Alliance of Civilizations project. It should be the overall framework to lead the international community forward in this regard, provided that political support and engagement becomes its main pillar in addition to other priority areas of education, youth, migration and media.

In conclusion, I would like to propose to this Conference to make emphasis on the need for political engagement and to give unambiguous support to the Alliance of Civilizations as the most concrete roadmap in front of us.

Thank you.

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(*) Adviser to the OIC Secretary General

منشورات المنظمة الإسلامية للتربية والعلوم والثقافة ـ إيسيسكو ـ 1429هـ/2008م