Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
The Collective Voice of The Muslim World
Date: 31/01/2023
H.E. the Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Mr. Hissein Brahim Taha, delivered a speech to the 17th session of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States (PUIC) held in Algeria on 29-30 January 2023, in which he commended the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria and H.E. President Abdelmadjid Tebboune for the support they provide for joint Islamic action and issues of the Muslim world. The Secretary General also appreciated the hosting of the Algerian Parliament, represented in its two chambers, the National Assembly and the National People's Assembly, of this PUIC session, which takes place in very delicate regional and international conditions that require the OIC Member States to strengthen relations and solidarity and intensify coordination.
He affirmed the OIC position in support of the Palestinian cause, the central issue of Muslims, which is witnessing serious developments that require unifying positions and doubling efforts in order to urge the international community to shoulder its responsibility towards putting an end to Israeli violations, implementing international legitimacy resolutions, providing international protection for the Palestinian people, and preserving the historical and legal status of Al-Quds and sponsoring a multilateral political process to end the Israeli occupation and achieve the vision of the two-state solution, based on the relevant United Nations resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.
H.E. the Secretary-General also reaffirmed the OIC support for the right of the people of Jammu and Kashmir to self-determination and the rights of the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar and all Muslim minorities and communities in non-Member States. He affirmed the support of the OIC for peace, security, stability and development in the Sahel region, the Lake Chad basin, Afghanistan, Libya, Somalia, Iraq, Yemen, Syria and Sudan, calling for resorting to wisdom and dialogue in addressing differences, conflicts and crises.
The Secretary-General expressed his deep concern over the escalation of racism, hate speech and Islamophobia in many regions of the world, reiterating the OIC condemnation of what has recently been committed by elements of the extreme right in Europe in terms of desecration of the Holy Qur'an, describing it as extremist and provocative practices, an example of hatred and a manifestation of Islamophobia. He indicated that the OIC has requested the governments of the concerned countries to take the necessary measures to address these practices. He stressed that the OIC has always been encouraging dialogue, understanding and cooperation between religions, cultures and civilizations, consolidating the values of tolerance and peaceful coexistence, rejecting hatred and extremism and combating terrorism to achieve peace and harmony in the world.
He also referred to the challenges posed by food security, the negative impacts of the Coronavirus pandemic and climate change, recalling the efforts made by the OIC to promote the active exchange of knowledge, technology, investment and trade with the aim of ensuring the achievement of the goals contained in the OIC-2025: Program of Action.
It should be noted that a high-level delegation from the OIC General Secretariat has participated in the 17th session of the PUIC. This participation falls within the framework of the commitment to promote joint Islamic action and support cooperation among the parliaments of the OIC Member States.
