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OIC should play its role with regard to Palestine and Kashmir issues: Marriyum

OIC should play its role with regard to Palestine and Kashmir issues: Marriyum
October 22, 2022 Web Desk

ISTANBUL (APP) - Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb on Saturday underscored that the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) should more proactively play its role with regard to the Palestine and Kashmir issues besides protecting the fundamental rights of Muslims across the globe, especially in those areas where they were in minority.

Addressing the 12th Session of Islamic Conference of Information Ministers, she said it was high time for the OIC member states to step up efforts for combating the Islamophobia rising gradually across the world.

“The abhorrent phenomenon of Islamophobia is not abating. In our region – South Asia – hate speech and hate crimes against Muslims remain a source of increasing concern. Despite our efforts to the contrary, there has been a constant rise manifested in mob lynching, pre-planned communal riots, and negative portrayal in electronic and social media in India.”

As a representative of the collective aspirations of the Muslim Ummah, she stressed, the OIC was uniquely poised to lead the endeavour, and must throw its full political and economic weight and clout in protecting the fundamental rights of Muslims and interests of Muslim minorities across the globe.

She put forward multiple recommendations coupled with observations regarding the challenges faced by the Muslims, especially their faith Islam in the information domain.

The minister highlighted deliberate use of instruments of information control that define perceptions about Islam and the Muslims. She cited that many Muslim countries now had independent media which had made inroads into the people’s minds about stereotyped image of Islam. “Information colonialism has to be fought,” she said, suggesting that a new independent information regime established. “More needs to be done in terms of creating information synergies among the Muslim states.”

The OIC Secretary General, she said, should accord priority to appointment of a Special Envoy on Islamophobia, as mandated by last the Council of Foreign Ministers’ resolution in Islamabad.

On the occasion, she also drew your attention of the participants to some other major challenges faced by the OIC states and the role of media in addressing the same.

“Climate change is the biggest generational issue of our time. Recently, my country Pakistan has faced catastrophic and unprecedented climate-induced floods – causing massive loss of life, property and livelihood,” she said.