OIC Set Up Observatory On Islamophobia
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Courtesy Of: IslamOnline.com
5/9/2006

The Organization of Islamic Conference set up an observatory on Islamophobia that will monitor and document all anti-Islamic activities around the world, particularly in Europe, the Khaleej Times reported.

Addressing a preparatory meeting to the 33rd session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (ICFM), OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said the new observatory, that will be based at the OIC's General-Secretariat in Jeddah, will tackle the issue of Islamophobia, everywhere.

He explained that the observatory was part of the OIC reform plans that "believe in concrete work rather than Just talk."

Ihsanoglu also said that for the first time in OIC history, the organization made an official request for adequate representation of the Islamic World at the United Nations Security Council.

"We are closely following this issue with the OIC office and the Islamic Group in New York," he said.

"At the General Secretariat, we have established an interactive working methodology based on meetings with ambassadorial councils of Islamic countries in several world capitals, particularly in international decision-making centers, such as the UN in New York, Geneva, Vienna, and Paris, so as to ensure a stauncher defense and closer follow-up of the causes of the Ummah," he added.

Ihsanoglu also said that the General Secretariat will set up an OIC Contact Group on Iraq that will tackle Iraqi affairs, adding that the OIC is considering the possibility of establishing an office in Baghdad.

The Secretary-General, who strongly condemned the surge in sectarian violence in Iraq, said that he would visit Iraq to meet with the new Iraqi Prime Minister Jawad Maliki and discuss the possibility of cooperation between the OIC and the new Iraqi government.

On Palestine, Ihsanoglu said that the OIC welcomes the fair elections that were held in January and rejects the economic and diplomatic sanctions imposed by the Western World against the Palestinian people and the newly elected Hamas-led government.

He also said that the OIC will organize a workshop of an Intergovernmental Group of Experts (IGGE) to conduct a study on what should be done on the issue of Al-Quds.

Ihsanoglu also noted that the IRCICA (Research Center for Islamic History, Art and Culture) will document the Islamic Architectural Heritage in Palestine, in general and Al-Quds, in particular, and also compile a database on Islamic Architecture and Historic Monuments.

Source:
http://islamonline.com/cgi-bin/news_service/world_full_story.asp?service_id=2398