Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
The Collective Voice of The Muslim World
Date: 04/12/2014
The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Iyad Ameen Madani, held several bilateral meetings at the sidelines of the proceedings of the Tenth Session of the Islamic Conference of Ministers of Information and Communication held in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran on 1- 4 December 2014. The Secretary General, during his meeting with the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance of Iran, Ali Jannati, discussed the proceedings of the Council of Information Ministers since the Islamic Republic of Iran chairs the Council as successor to the Republic of Gabon. The two sides emphasized the importance of cooperation of the Muslim Mass Media in order to address challenges confronting the Islamic World especially rhetoric of extremism, hate speech regarding Islam, and Islamophobia. During the meeting of the Secretary General with the Minister of Communication, the Spokesperson of the government of the Kingdom of Morocco, Mustafa Al Khalafi, they discussed ways of implementing resolutions adopted by the Islamic Conference of Ministers of Information and Communication in its current session, in a manner that would benefit the joint Islamic media action. Iyad Madani also discussed with the Moroccan Minister the media issues related to the Cause of Palestine, training of Palestinian media cadres, enhancement of Africa’s image in the media, and countering the hate speech against Islam (Islamophobia). In addition, the Secretary General met with the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Tajikistan, Orumbekzoda Shamsiddin Shodibek, where they discussed the need for the Islamic Conference of Ministers of Information and Communication to come up with fruitful outcomes and resolutions that enhance the joint Islamic media action. The two sides expressed their hope for more cooperation between Tajikistan and the OIC in different cultural aspects. Iyad Madani also met with the minister of Information in the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, Sayed Hasanul Haq Inu, and they discussed issues of media in the Islamic World and the possibility of Bangladesh to contribute to strengthening the Islamic joint action in the field of media, especially in exchanging news of the Islamic World among member states. The two sides touched upon the issue of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar in the light of the continued deterioration of their field conditions and the increasing number of refugees fleeing to different regions. The Secretary General held a meeting with the advisor to the Tunisian Prime Minister, responsible for Information and Communication, Mr. Moufdi Mseddi, during which both sides tackled the democratic transition in Tunisia and the important role of media especially with the presence of a code of ethics that contribute to regulating the media action. The Secretary General also met the deputy Minister of Information and Communication of the Republic of Indonesia, Sayed Freddy Herman Tulung , and they discussed the important and active role of Indonesia in various OIC conferences, and the need to set out a framework for cooperation among the OIC member states in the field of news exchange especially through the OIC media institution. Furthermore, the Secretary General met the Palestinian Minister of Culture with whom discussed the media aspects and both sides consulted on holding an exhibition for Al Quds due to take place in the first week of next January in Ramallah.
