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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