Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
The Collective Voice of The Muslim World
Date: 05/11/2014
H.E. Mr. Iyad Ameen Madani, Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), officially inaugurated the sixth session of the Independent Permanent Commission on Human Rights (IPHRC) at the General Secretariat headquarters in Jeddah, on Tuesday, November 4th, 2014. The themes of the sixth session, which ends its proceedings on Thursday, November 6th, 2014 are combating extremism and intolerance and civil, political, economic, social, political and cultural rights in Member Countries. It shall also adopt the results of the four working group meetings on Palestine, rights of women and children, Islamophobia, Muslim minorities and the right in development. In his statement, the OIC Secretary General highlighted the challenges facing OIC-IPHRC, primarily to set a standard or model for human rights in Islam in line with the global discourse. Madani indicated that the OIC-IPHRC should review all the documents and instruments adopted by the OIC in the field of human rights in Islam, and the rights of women and children. In the context of asserting the OIC commitment and leadership in the fight against international terrorism, Madani said, "one of the most difficult challenges facing the OIC-IPHRC is combating extremism and intolerance, which is the theme of this session. Our religion considers terrorism the most repugnant crime against humanity that fuels the enemies of Islam." On his part, Ibrahim Kawa, Chair of the OIC-IPHRC, explained that the commissioners discussed the important technical issues that enable the OIC-IPHRC to achieve its mission, stressing that one of its priorities is "to look introspectively and address violation of human rights in Member States." He added that the sixth session shall refer its recommendations to the next OIC Council of Foreign Ministers. He also valued the participation of the various OIC departments in the IPHRC discussions in its current session upon the approval of the Secretary General. In his statement, Ambassador Mohammed Ahmed Tayeb, General Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Makkah region, said that this session is the first after the selection of Jeddah as the permanent headquarters of the OIC-IPHRC. He stressed the keenness of the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to support the OIC-IPHRC to advance its work and achieve the aspirations of Member States. Tayeb pointed out that there are high hopes that the OIC-IPHRC would play an active role in the fight against extremism and religious fanaticism and reinstate mediation thought and respect for others. At the same time, he drew the attention to the external challenge of Islamophobia and expressed hopes that the OIC-IPHRC would be able to address this serious phenomenon. It is noteworthy that Dr. Abdul-Qaher Qamar, Director of the Department of Fatwa and Comparative Legislation at International Islamic Fiqh Academy, submitted a working paper on extremism and intolerance during the proceedings of the session.
