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OIC adopts action plan for fighting Islamophobia
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) adopted a plan of action for combating Islamophobia, religious discrimination, intolerance and hatred toward Muslims on Monday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
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Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi (front, third from right) attends the Organization of Islamic Cooperation ministerial meeting in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in October 2016. (Courtesy of the Foreign Ministry/File)
T
he Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) adopted a plan of action for combating Islamophobia, religious discrimination, intolerance and hatred towards Muslims on Monday on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The action plan was endorsed during a meeting of an OIC working group on peace and dialogue, chaired by Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi together with OIC Secretary-General Yousef Al-Othaimeen.
"Trends in the expression of hatred, fanaticism and intolerance towards Islam continue to increase. Political rhetoric that hates Muslim groups and is not compatible with democratic values and pluralism is increasingly worrisome," Retno said as quoted in a press release obtained by The Jakarta Post on Tuesday evening.
Previously, the draft of the action plan was discussed and agreed upon by the first meeting of the OIC working group on peace and dialogue in Jakarta on July 29 and 30. It was Indonesia that initiated the idea to have such an action plan over concerns about the increasing incidents of violence based on prejudice, including the tragedy in Christchurch, New Zealand in March. Indonesia also hosted the first meeting of the working group.
"The action plan is used as a reference for the OIC's voluntary actions and work in overcoming Islamophobia in the world today," Retno said, adding that she hoped the adoption of the action plan would bring more solid efforts to consolidate the Muslim community to uphold the values of a peaceful and tolerant Islam.
"All leaders of Islamic countries must ensure there is no small space for radical groups that can develop in our society," she added.
The OIC countries, she said, should now become a tool to promote harmony in society -- whether through the OIC forum or any other multilateral forum. "The OIC states must voice the true values of Islam in every room at the United Nations," she said.
