OIC Secretary-General Commends the Efforts of the IPHRC and Warns of the Dangers of Racial Discrimination

Date: 26/11/2023

The Assistant Secretary-General for Political Affairs of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), H.E. Ambassador Yousef Al-Dubaey, opened the twenty-second regular session of the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) of the OIC on Sunday, 26 November 2023 in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where he delivered a speech on behalf of the OIC Secretary-General, H.E. Mr. Hissein Brahim Taha, on the occasion of the thematic discussion on “Eliminating racial discrimination from an Islamic and human rights perspective,” to discuss the ways and means necessary to address the growing scourge of discrimination, including racial discrimination and its various contemporary manifestations.

The Secretary-General expressed his sincere appreciation and gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the OIC host country, for the generous support that it has continued to provide to the OIC and for the special attention it gives to all its activities and for hosting the headquarters of the IPHRC, in Jeddah, under the generous patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, May Allah protect them.

The Secretary-General also commended the tangible efforts exerted by the IPHRC, expressing his thanks to the Executive Director of the IPHRC Secretariat, Professor Dr. Noura Zaid Al-Rshoud, who demonstrated her professional commitment by providing valuable technical support to the OIC General Secretariat on a number of human rights issues, commending, at the same time, the services provided by the IPHRC and its commissioners whose tenure would end after this session.

Hissein Brahim Taha explained in his speech that the OIC and the international human rights community recognize the valuable contribution of the IPHRC in the field of promoting and protecting human rights with complete independence, impartiality, and objectivity, as the IPHRC has undertaken great work in providing consistent recommendations to Member States on various topics aimed at ensuring compatibility of the universal human rights and fundamental freedoms with Islamic values.

The Secretary-General pointed out that racial discrimination has serious consequences for affected individuals and communities, as it perpetuates social inequality, limits opportunities for social advancement and employment, undermines mental and physical well-being, and can contribute to the outbreak of social tensions and conflicts and to a weak sense of belonging. He also stressed that the OIC and its Member States will remain at the forefront of combating racism, as it has played an active role in setting standards that have helped combat this scourge.

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