Task for the OIC

By Naveed Khan, San Jose, CA

The OIC headsof state met in Doha from November 12-14. The meeting again provided an opportunity to the OIC to take a significant and practical stand on issues that concern the world, particularly the Muslim world. Muslims constitute 25% of the world population, have 40% of globals energy reserves, have a nuclear power amongst them and at least two others who can achieve that enviable status.

The ordinary people of these states are frustrated to see that their leaders have never taken a unified stand on issues that are hurting Muslims emotionally and physically. A quarter million Bosnian Muslims were killed and there was very little action, Israel continues to torment Palestinians and India continues to deny Kashmiris their right of self-determination and instead puts pressure on Muslims to convert to Hinduism, Philippines President Estrada celebrated the massacre of Muslims by feasting on pigs, Russian President Putin got elected by killing thousands in Chechnya and yet the Muslim leaders are a picture of silence.

I urge the writers of your esteemed weekly, who have more intimate knowledge of the Muslim world and its problems, to make practical suggestions to put pressure on OIC leaders to act.

Here are some suggestions:

1. Recognize Palestinian State with Jerusalem as its capital and move a resolution in the General Assembly and the Security Council to that effect. OIC countries should immediately severe all economic and diplomatic ties with those countries that oppose this resolution.
2. If Israel does not stop its attacks on the unarmed Palestinian people then all Israeli contacts with Muslim countries should end, including diplomatic relations. If Israel accepts the above-mentioned resolution then all Muslim countries should establish economic and diplomatic ties with Israel.
3. Demand that India fulfills its international obligation to the Kashmiri people and gives them the right to self-determination within one year failing which all economic ties with India should be severed.
4. Declare that the purpose of Pakistan’s nuclear capability is to provide nuclear deterrence against the Hindu-Zionists expansionist policies in South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East.
5. Demand that Philippines desist from attacking the impoverished Muslim population and reaches a negotiated settlement with it.
6. Form an OIC trading block.
7. Form an OIC policy committee to represent the Muslim Ummah in world affairs.