| DAYMUNC |
| Background Guide |
| Organization of the Islamic Conference |
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Dear Delegates, Welcome to DAYMUNC X and the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC). My name is Sunna Babar and it is an honor to serve as your director. This is my fourth year of participation in this conference. I was a delegate my first year, representing Germany in the Economic and Social Council. My second year I served on staff as co-director for the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and other Related Intolerances. Last year, I was chair for the Johannesburg Conference. I have also had three years of experience as a delegate at the National Model United Nations Conference in New York City.
Your committee topics are as follows: This is the first year the OIC will be a part of the conference. Considering current global events, having this conference is timely and very much appropriate. As the name implies, the religion if Islam permeates the issues you as a delegate will be faced with. It may help to research the faith itself alongside your country’s policies. I have included a few Internet sources at the end of this guide, should you choose to do this. I am confident that all of you will be up-to-task in familiarizing yourself with your country and the committee topics. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns, that is why I am here. I look forward to meeting all of you at the conference!
Sincerely, IntroductionThe Organization of the Islamic Conference was established in Rabat Morocco September 25th, 1969, during the first official meeting of leaders of the Islamic world. This meeting was held in the aftermath of a failed attempt to burn down the Al-Aqsa Masjid in Al-Quds (Jerusalem). The founding members realized in the wake of the attack on Islam’s third holiest site that a unifying body was a necessity to combat the issues at the time such as Israel, racism and colonialism. The organizational structure of the OIC is as follows: Principal Bodies
Along with the principle bodies there are nine Subsidiary Organs, four Specialized Institutions, and seven Affiliated Institutions. These organs and institutions have been instrumental in the many accomplishments the OIC has made in the past three decades. Advances in trade and commerce have included reduction in tariffs and a more cohesive trade structure. Religious education has been promoted, along with awareness of important Islamic historical structures, the protection thereof. The advancement of impoverished populations and the development of the important place women under Islam are meant to have has also been made possible through the work of the aforementioned structures. The OIC cooperates with the United Nations in fostering peace, in promoting social and economic development, in combating ethnic or racial intolerance and in eliminating colonialism in all forms and manifestations. It plays an active role in international efforts aimed at strengthening peace, security and justice throughout the world. The OIC is the world's second largest intergovernmental organization after the United Nations in which it has observer status on a reciprocal basis. The relationship between the OIC and the UN has been an important one, with the voice of Muslims globally has been heard in UN General Assembly and beyond. I. The Role of the OIC in the Struggle of the Palestinian PeopleArticle II of the OIC charter lists the support of the struggle of the people of Palestine as one major purpose of the OIC. Seven hundred thousand Palestinians had to flee their homeland when Jewish settlers declared Israel a state in 1948. Since that time, many have had to live their lives in destitution in refugee camps outside of Israel. Those who have been able to stay in Israel find themselves leaving in day-to-day violence, often as second-class citizens, with restrictions on travel, food, work, and sanitation. The OIC has been vocal in their support of the Palestinian people. At the 29th session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, a declaration was issued in which the following points were asserted:
The UN has heard and understood the plight of the Palestinian people as well. The UN Security Council has passed numerous resolutions such as 242 pertaining to the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Palestinian territories. The General Assembly has also passed many resolutions decrying Israeli action again. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has also been instrumental in documenting the plight of and aiding the Palestinian people. It cannot be denied that the OIC has been vocal in its assertions on the suffering of the Palestinian people. When it comes to actions, however, the situation changes. Various calls for boycotts of Israel, which is seen as direct action to strike against that which is at the root of the Palestinian crisis, have never been truly effective. For example, several OIC Member States, including Indonesia, Egypt, Jordan and Arab Gulf states, maintained economic ties with Israel during a 1981 call for a boycott "for the liberation of Jerusalem and the occupied territories". Attempts to raise financial aid have not fared well either. What can the OIC do to gather the necessary support to effectively aid in the struggle of the Palestinian people? Resolutions from both the OIC and the UN are routinely ignored by Israel, thus proving ineffective overall. II. The Fight Against Terrorism and its Impact on the Islamic WorldOne of the objectives for the OIC as stated in Article II of its charter is to take necessary measures to support international peace in security founded on justice. The OIC Secretary General, Dr. Abdelouahed Belkeziz reaffirmed this in the following statement from an October 2001 press release following the 9/11 attacks: Attacks against Western targets have been and continue to be taking place in several OIC Member States such as Jordan, Pakistan, and Indonesia. Violence in the name of Islam takes place routinely in many OIC countries. Some in the global community have charged that Islamic countries are not doing enough to end the roots of terrorism. Religious schools called madrassahs, common in countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and other Middle Eastern countries, have been known to teach a more fundamental approach to Islam. Some believe these schools encourage violence and promote anti-West sentiment. There are even accusations that governmental officials from OIC countries have indirectly and directly funded groups that support terrorisms. Combating terrorism has been an issue facing the United Nations and the global community for several decades. The terror events of September 11th 2001 have served to step up efforts to seek out and destroy terrorism. The fact remains that acts of terrorisms have taken place in the name of Islam, and the perpetrators are from OIC Member States. While the majority of traditional Muslim scholars have emphasized that terrorism has no place in Islam, actions tend to speak louder than words. What more can the OIC do to address this global issue? Where does the line between legitimate jihad end and murder begin? III. Regional Conflicts and the OICThere are many examples of conflicts that involve members of the OIC. In the Middle East, there are issues between members over geopolitical concerns. Remnants of colonialism and the subsequent issues over land ownership, as in the case of Spain and Morocco, is another source of conflict. To date, there have been two major regional conflicts (aside from the issue of Palestine) that have arguably warranted significant attention from the OIC. Those issues would be the struggle over Kashmir by India and Pakistan, and the Chechen conflict. A. KashmirThe formation of the Islamic Pakistan and secular India resulted after the end of British colonial rule in 1947. Despite the fact that the majority of its population is Muslim, the land of Kashmir fell under Indian rule, based on the decision of the non-Muslim ruler of the region. Pakistan has long asserted that because of the Muslim population, Kashmir should be part of India. India denies this claim, and Kashmir stands as the only Muslim majority section of India. Tensions abound due to accusations of mistreatment of Muslim Kashmiris by Indian soldiers, and the lack of proper representation in the Indian government. The OIC has noted the tensions in the Kashmiri region, as the following statement by an OIC representative at the 56th Session on the Commission on Human Rights: The OIC continues to remain concerned about the persistent use of force and violations of human rights against innocent Kashmiris in Jammu and Kashmir. It calls for the respect of their human rights including their right to self determination as mandated by relevant resolutions of UN Security Council. It affirms that a sustained dialogue is essential to address the core of the problem and to remove the basic cause of tension between India and Pakistan. The OIC underlines the importance of the offer of good offices made by the OIC Foreign Ministers as well as its Summit, in the interest of regional peace and security. It should also be noted that religious violence in India is not isolated in Kashmir. Violence in the states of Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh has called to question the lack of sufficient admonishment by ruling party of India. The allegation is that the government of India is not doing enough to end the suffering of the Kashmiri people, as noted by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as Human Rights Watch. B. ChechnyaThe Northern Caucus region where the Chechens resides has been largely Muslim since the 17th century. The Russian Constitution (Article 65) lists the Chechen Republic as a part of the Russian Federation. In 1990, a secession movement began, and on November 2, 1991, Chechnya declared its independence. Since this point, the Russians and Chechens have been engaged in battle, resulting in a human rights catastrophe in the Chechen region. The following assessment was made by an OIC representative during
debate at the 56th Session on the Commission of Human Rights:
The conflict in the aforementioned regions continues to escalate at an alarming rate. While the OIC has spoken out against the violence in both regions, there is a definite lack in actual action. The situation is further compounded by the conflicting world opinion on both regions. There is a fine line between the ‘freedom fighting’ actions of the Chechen rebels and Kashmiri separatists. Russia and India both decry such actions as terrorist in nature, and they are not alone in such opinions. For the OIC to formulate and implement effective plans of action for both areas, the struggles of the oppressed Muslim populations must be balanced by factual data on wrongful acts of terrorism against the governments they live under. ConclusionTo date, the OIC has expanded to include fifty-seven permanent members and three observer states. The countries under the OIC total 650 million (21% of the world’s population). One would assume this would mean the ability to have substantial influence and control. On the contrary, a small budget coupled with the power to do little more than pass declarations minimizes the overall effectiveness the OIC as actually implanting policy and procedure. There are many challenges that face the OIC as it enters its thirty-third year of existence. The aforementioned topics are only the tip of the iceberg. As Islam continues to grow, so do the misperceptions and hostilities towards it. Is a clash between the Islamic and non-Islamic world inevitable? Will the countries of the OIC work past cultural, sectarian, and socio-economic differences to achieve the Islamic solidarity the founding members of OIC were seeking to establish? Only time can tell if the current challenges facing the OIC will serve to weaken and splinter or strengthen and unify the Islamic world. BibliographyASF Chechnya in Brief Charter of the OIC Declaration Issued by the 29th Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers on the Dangerous Situation in Palestine Introduction – The Organization of the Islamic Conferences
OIC Accomplishments
OIC Organizational Structure
Quick Guide: Organization of the Islamic Conference Security Council Considers Terrorist Threats to International Peace,
Security
Statement by Ambassador Munir Akram permanent representative of
Pakistan, Coordinator of the OIC Working Group on Human Rights in
Geneva, on behalf of the OIC, at the 56th Session of the Commission
on Human Rights, on Item 9: "Question of violation of human
rights and fundamental freedoms in any part of the world"
Geneva, 30 March 2000 Statement by Ambassador Munir Akram permanent representative of
Pakistan, Coordinator of the OIC Working Group on Human Rights in
Geneva, on behalf of the OIC, at the 56th Session of the Commission
on Human Rights, on Item 4, "Special Debate on Chechnya"
Geneva, 11 April 2000
The OIC Secretary General Strongly Condemning the Terrorist Attacks
that Caused the Death of a Great Number of Innocent People Suggestions for Further ResearchOIC
United Nations
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
Islam
News Please note that some of these web sites are from a non-Western perspective, included to provide better understanding of your country’s viewpoints. I encourage you to use various news sources to gain several perceptions on the issues at hand.
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