Organisation of Islamic Cooperation
The Collective Voice of The Muslim World
Date: 05/10/2007
New York - 5 October 2007 Mr. President, As this is the first time that I address the General Assembly this year, allow me to extend to you my sincere congratulations for your election to preside over the deliberation of the General Assembly. I would also like to seize this opportunity to convey to the Secretary General of the UN, the Honorable Ban Ki Moon, my felicitation for this well-deserved election to this sublime post and for his wise leadership. I would also like to assure them of the OIC’s full support and cooperation as they carry out their important tasks. Mr. President, We have been listening with great attention to the general and rich debate that started yesterday, on the subject of Interreligious and Intercultural understanding and cooperation for peace. I have no intention to repeat what those who preceded me have said. I would rather say that there is an overwhelming agreement on the importance of interreligious and intercultural understanding in peace building and ensuring security and prosperity in the world. We, in the OIC, fully subscribe to this conclusion. We have expressed our thanks and gratitude for the two sponsors, Pakistan and the Philippines, of this highly appreciated initiative, as its subject matter is presently of great concern to the international community, and constitutes one of the greatest challenges for humanity. It is, also, on the same premise that we have welcomed the idea of Alliance of Civilization, which is gaining momentum. We have already committed ourselves to work diligently to ensure its success. Being involved in this issue of civilization dialogue for almost ten years, and being the initiator of Dialogue among civilizations since 1998, the OIC has succeeded in placing this issue on the agenda of the General Assembly of the United Nations. We were also gratified when this August Assembly declared the year 2001 the Year of Dialogue among Civilization, and organized, to that end, many activities and programs around the world to mark that occasion. We now feel very satisfied to see that this issue has started to occupy a prominent place among the major concerns of the international community and to see this rich multiplication of interfaith dialogue. Our high-level meeting today is another manifestation of this importance. Having said that, we cannot but admit that getting from the phase of debating to that of concrete action is still lacking. Very few programs or projects have found their way to implementation; fewer attempts have been taken to address conflicts based on the foundations of a faith. That is why we firmly believe that interfaith dialogue or understanding should not remain an empty slogan without substance. We badly need practical and concrete measures to address this issue upon which depend the fate of peace and security in the world. It is from this vantage view that we have welcomed the new agenda of the Alliance of Civilization, which is focused on addressing the issues of youth, education, media, and immigration, from a practical angle, there is no doubt that these issues represent a serious source of friction in international relations. In the same vein, we believe that there is no alternative to dialogue. Dialogue is the only way to understanding. It is indispensable in building bridges and as a means of communication between religions and cultures. It is a must in promoting awareness to the necessity of understanding, confidence building, and ushering the world towards peace, security, and harmony. It seems to us that there are deficiencies in conceiving or conducting dialogue. Some among us talk of dialogue for the sake of dialogue and nothing beyond that. Others speak of dialogue without any political will to reach a real positive result. Some groups do not see the necessity to practice a dialogue based on a parity of esteem for different traditions or cultures. Others claim to exclusively represent the truth or to be superior to others. On the basis of these considerations, or others, we found ourselves unable to forge ahead as we all expected. To remedy these shortcomings, we believe that the purpose of interfaith dialogue should not be geared towards reaching doctrinal agreements, but rather to increase sensitivity towards and appreciation of the other. Dialogue should also be founded on values shared by all in the contemporary world. It should be practiced at local, regional, and international levels, and should have a wide scope, as inclusive as possible, reaching all sectors of civil societies. Moreover, dialogue should aim towards ethical globalization, in which each civilization maintains its identity as it contributes to creating a spirit of shared humanity and respect for all. In this context of ethics, we in the OIC have called for a practical measure to reduce tensions with regards to one of the thorniest issues facing the world, aiming to ensure respects for all religions and beliefs. We have suggested that an agreement with legal provisions be discussed and adopted, to prohibit defamation of religions or their sacred symbols. In doing so, we will stem the provocative attempts that poison the relations between the adherents of different religions, under the guise of freedom of expression. Distinguished Delegates, At a time when many are hailing the spirit of interfaith and inter-cultural dialogue, and the acknowledgement of diversity, many Muslims around the world are experiencing circumstances that are far from celebration or acknowledgment. Wide-ranging campaigns of hate speeches are sweeping large areas where Islam, as a religion, is being attacked, and denigrated, and where Muslims are facing injustices and discrimination. I am referring to Islamophobia. Western institutions monitoring Islamophobia in Europe are unanimous in reporting that Islamophobia is on the rise and that there has emerged a new form of discrimination based on the hatred of Islam. I have not evoked this as a complaint, but rather to highlight the relevance and importance of our meeting today. When we talk about Islamophobia, we are not dealing with words but with real facts on the ground. I think that everybody agrees that the present tense relationship between the Muslim world and the West, inspired by political, cultural, and religious factors, constitutes one of the major threats to peace and security in the world. To address this highly disturbing issue on a practical basis, I have repeatedly called for an urgent need for Islam and Christianity to agree on a historic reconciliation which will bring Islam and Christianity closer together, eliminate ancient grudges and pave the way for a promising future. A few decades ago, we saw this attempt happening between Christianity and Judaism. In this age of globalization a historic reconciliation between Islam and Christianity will be an event of resounding historic proportion affecting almost half of humanity. The two great religions of the world cannot afford to leave their relationship to be defined according to antiquated antagonistic paradigms. If we manage to clear this major obstacle, we are confident that the entire world will be safer, more peaceful, and prosperous. Let us work, Ladies and Gentlemen, together to promote peace and social cohesion. Let us endeavor to foster freedom of religion and belief, to overcome extremism, stereotypes, prejudices, ignorance and indifference. Let us be an instrument of God, of Peace, and of the unlimited ocean of love and harmony. Thank you.
