The Question Of Muslim Minorities and Communities In The World I am honored to present on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) this paper on the Issue of Muslim Minorities and Communities living in non- member states of the OIC in this important forum. Ladies and gentlemen Muslim minorities living in non-Muslim states are about 500 million Muslim, which constitute one third of the total Muslim population. With such a large population spread all over .the continents , specially in Asia ,Africa, Europe and growing population in the United States , the complexity of political , social , economical problems of these minorities have gained immense importance for the OIC . As a second largest international organization in the world, the OIC assumed intervention roles to help the Muslims for more than thirty years, when it had established a department of Muslim Minorities and communities, with the aim to reach out the Muslims in those countries where they have been resided and 'to address to their problems in amicable way with the consideration of the sovereignty of the host countries and with the cooperation of the states' governments. During the past thirty years, the OIC has engaged in the policy of helping the Muslim minorities to redeem their rights within the fabric of legal constitutional order in those states and Where there is absence of such. legal protection by helping through political means to provide a cover at the minimum, of the same standards extended to other citizens of that country. In the transformation which has taken place for the Muslim minorities, since the last few decades, the OIC has considered this issue essential to reiterate their rights 'through its various Ministerial and Summit Meetings to extend protection of Muslims and the same has also been enshrined in the OIC charter, and various, resolutions taking notice of rights of the Muslim minorities globally and in specific context , as the question of the Muslim Minorities in Southern Philippines , the Muslim minorities in Western Thrace, the question of Muslim minorities in Myanmar, the question of Muslim communities in southern Thailand, the question of Muslims minorities in India, China, Bulgaria ,the Balkan. In this context' the rubric of the OTC's policy keeping in the view the realities on the ground have been over the years pursued through the following Strategies:  Keeping channels Of contact with the Muslim minorities and assisting them to interact with the OIC member states and the OIC General Secretariat to learn about their needs, state of treatment extended. by the state and extending them support and advices.  Developing relations or direct contacts with those countries having Muslim Minorities to underline the need to preserve their rights, through negotiations and engagement in 'constructive and . '

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