Battling Islamophobia

I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, in my capacity as the chair of the OIC Group. At the outset, allow me to express to the delegation of Nigeria, a fellow OIC Member State, both congratulations for presiding over the Security Council, and gratitude to holding an open debate on such a timely and important topic as the role of the regional organization in countering the evolving challenges of global security. In my statement, I will focus on the challenges posed by the continuously evolving threat posed by terrorism and violent extremism, and highlight the critical role played by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation towards countering it.

As our world has become more interconnected and interdependent, so too have the challenges we face; requiring us to enhance our collective efforts to tackle these global threats. Having said that, it is not enough that these security challenges be tackled on a country-to-country level, but more importantly on a regional and sub-regional organizations level whereby such organizations coordinate and cooperate in a concerted effort in order to ensure the collective peace and security of our peoples. The Security Council is to encourage the aforementioned as it is clearly stipulated in chapter VIII (8), article 52, of the UN Charter.

Terrorism and violent extremism remain two of the most serious threats to every society, as well as to the international peace and security as a whole. Regardless of its ethno-religious identity, geographical location, socio-economic conditions, or political stance at the world stage, every nation is more or less susceptible to the growing threat of terrorism. Therefore, never in history, a comprehensive and concerted response to terrorism was needed as much as it is today. However, there seems to be fundamental differences within the international community on how to handle the issue of terrorism.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation is committed to fighting terrorism and countering violent extremism. To that effect, the OIC works toward delegitimizing violent extremist ideology, developing counter narratives to such extremism ideologies and propaganda, providing appropriate pathways to vulnerable groups, especially youth and women, elevating credible and authentic religious voices that support tolerance and non-violence, as well as countering use of cyberspace including social media by extremist groups. 

As part of its ongoing efforts, the OIC’s Ministerial Executive Committee held an emergency session on 15 February 2015 to review and invigorate its actions against terrorism and violent extremism. Similarly, the General Secretariat organized on 5 May 2015 an expert level workshop on countering threats of terrorism and extremism on cyberspace implementing one of its deliverables. 

Moreover, on 27 May 2015 in Kuwait, the 42nd Council of OIC Foreign Ministers had a special brainstorming session on developing an “Effective Strategy to Combat Terrorism, Violent Extremism and Islamophobia”, thus strengthening the OIC’s commitment in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism. The OIC member states will deliberate on and consider a proposal for establishing an OIC Fund to combat terrorism. Additionally, the OIC General Secretariat will organize an Intergovernmental Expert Group Meeting to finalize the strategy to combat terrorism and violent extremism at the cyber space.

The UN and the OIC continue to work together in order to counter incitement to terrorism and violent extremism. In this regard, within the framework of the ongoing UN-OIC cooperation, the OIC held a workshop in Jeddah in May 2013, on countering incitement to terrorism and enhancing cultural dialogue pursuant to the Security Council resolution 1624 (2005). Similarly, after the forthcoming UN General Assembly, the OIC is looking forward to, again in close consultation with the Counter Terrorism Executive Directorate, to hold a meeting of the OIC Member States on “National practices in countering incitement to terrorism and violent extremism pursuant to the Security Council resolutions 1624 (2005) and 2178 (2014)”. 

The OIC remains an important partner of the United Nations in peace, security and the fostering of a culture of peace at the global level. The OIC stands ready to make meaningful contributions to the aforementioned initiatives, and reiterates its cooperation to working with the United Nations in conflict prevention and resolution, mediation, peacekeeping and peacebuilding, promotion of good governance at the national and international levels, combating international terrorism, fighting extremism, countering religious intolerance, including Islamophobia, promoting and protecting all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, humanitarian assistance and capacity-building.

Regional organizations have a greater role to prevent, manage and resolve crises and to ensure the maintenance of international peace and security. 

It is imperative and incumbent upon us – states and regional organizations – to work more closely, more collectively, in order to contribute to the promotion of the purposes and principles of the United Nations. 

Thank you

Statement of H.E. Mr. Mansour Al Otaibi Permanent Representative of the State of Kuwait to the UN on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Group at the Security Council open debate in connection with the agenda item “Regional Organizations and Challenges of Global Security”, 18 August 2015, New York

Refugees walk through a field after crossing from Serbia to Hungary, in Roszke, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2015. Over 10,000 migrants, including many women with babies and small children, have crossed into Serbia over the past few days and headed toward Hungary. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

It isn't true, after all, that 'Up to 50' migrants were found dead in a refrigerated truck parked and abandoned by human smugglers on the shoulder of the main highway from Budapest to Vienna. Not true at all -- unfortunately, since the true number of people desperate to escape from the prospect of death only to meet it in their escape -- as Austrian authorities investigating the situation concluded that crammed into that truck were 71 bodies.

Europe is facing a monumental crisis of refugees fleeing oppression, poverty, conflict and threats to their existence as ethnic minorities, religious minorities, ethnic majority Muslims in minority-controlled countries, Muslims considered to be apostates by fanatical Muslims. These are Christians, Yazidis, Druze, but mostly Arab and African Muslims desperate to escape their countries of origin and the violence that propelled them into refugee status.

The United Nations has pleaded for funding from international sources to help it deal with the needs of internally displaced refugees and refugees on the move outside their countries of origin. People desperate to escape the endless rounds of viciousness pack up their children and what scant belongings they can take with them, to outrun what they fear; their personal obliteration at the hands of jihadist terrorists and Muslim military regimes alike.

These are hundreds of thousands of Muslim men, women and children fleeing the Islamist menace that threatens them directly, and which threatens to infiltrate with their deadly attacks on the international arena. They are desperate to escape from their Muslim countries, and hope to be able to settle and find haven in non-Muslim, European democracies where they envision the hoped-for possibility of finding a future for themselves.

Refugees walk through a field after crossing from Serbia to Hungary, in Roszke, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2015. Over 10,000 migrants, including many women with babies and small children, have crossed into Serbia over the past few days and headed toward Hungary. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation is composed of 57 member-countries. Its function is to represent the interests of Muslim countries. And it does this by condemning any non-Muslim aggression or perceived oppression against Muslims. Should anything untoward occur against Muslims or Muslim countries implemented on the part of countries that are not Muslim they bring their aggregate weight of condemnation down on the perceived malefactor.

They do not, however, appear too dreadfully concerned over the carnage now being wrought in the world of Islam by Islamists. Internal affairs of Muslim countries are one thing; external interference by non-Muslim countries another entirely. As Muslims are butchered by Muslims, as Muslim countries disintegrate under the atrocities brought to them by Muslim tyrants in sectarian wars and terrorist jihadist conflicts, they barely blink.

No move to assemble a peace-keeping army to settle down conflicts and save Muslim lives; no plans afoot to rescue people from mass slaughter, or to embark on a humanitarian enterprise to provide medical care, food and housing; no pledges by Muslim nations to take in the hordes of refugees clamouring for aid. But should a non-Muslim country interfere, then the massive frown of condemnation is declared.

So Europe hosts summits on "Europe's refugee crisis". And the Organization of Islamic Cooperation invests itself in battling any perceived vestiges of "Islamophobia" that might dare raise its ugly head pointing out the horrendous dysfunction of the world of Islam. And migrants continue to follow the Balkans route from Turkey to Greece by sea, up north to Macedonia by bus or foot, by train through Serbia, walking wearily into EU member Hungary.

A refugee girl moves under barbed wire as she crosses from Serbia to Hungary, in Roszke, Thursday, Aug. 27, 2015. Over 10,000 migrants, including many women with babies and small children, have crossed into Serbia over the past few days and headed toward Hungary. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)