Organization of Islamic Conference – O.I.C
Organization of Islamic Conference – O.I.C
Introduction
The organization of Islamic Conference is the symbol of Islamic
brother hood and fraternity. It is the biggest and the most active organization
of Muslim countries. It was established in 1969 so that the scattered strength
of Muslims may be united and unity among the Muslim countries may be
strengthened.
Meeting of the Heads of
the Islamic States
The Zionists set fire to the Holy Mosque “Al-Aqsa” on
21st August, 1969 which greatly infuriated the Muslims all over
the World. Strikes were observed throughout the Muslim World. The Muslims felt
that effective steps should be taken to protect the Muslims from the aggression
of the non-Muslim forces. Thus the Arab Foreign Ministers in their conference
assigned the responsibility to the Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia and
Morocco of making arrangement to hold an Islamic Summit Conference. After
meeting in Jeddah, a seven member committee was formed to take necessary steps
for holding the Islamic Summit Conference.
Summit Conferences of
the O.I.C
First Islamic Summit
Conference
Date and Place
The first Islamic Summit Conference was held in Rabat (Morocco)
from September 22nd to 25th in 1969.
Participants
24 heads of States participated in this conference.
Decisions
1. The incidents of burning of the Masjid Al-Aqsa
was discussed.
2. Middle East situation.
3. Emphasis was laid on the need for maintaining
close relations among Muslim countries.
Second Islamic Summit
Conference
Date and Place
The second Islamic Summit Conference was held in Lahore (Pakistan)
from February 22nd to 24th in 1974.
President
The Present of the conference was Z.A. Bhutto.
Participants
40 delegations and a delegation of the Palestine Liberation
Organization participated.
Decisions
Following decisions were taken in the conference.
1. Middles East problem especially Palestinians
issue.
2. It was demanded that Israeli troops should be
withdrawn from occupied Arab Territory.
3. A committee was set up to find ways and means to
eliminate poverty, disease and ignorance.
4. S.S.C also set up Muslim Itehad Fund and Islamic
Development Bank.
Third Islamic Summit
Conference
Date and Place
The third Islamic Summit Conference was held at Taif (Saudi Arabia
) in January 1981.
Participants
38 Muslim countries participated.
Decisions
1. The conference paid special attention to the
soviet intervention in Afghanistan, Palestine problems, Jerusalem and Iran Iraq
war.
2. It was decided to create Islamic
Center for Trade Exchange and to set up an Academy for
Islamic Fiqah.
Fourth Islamic Summit
Conference
Date and Place
The fourth Summit Conference was held at Casablanca (Morocco) in
January, 1984.
Participants
45 Muslim countries participated.
Decisions
1. Various international problems like Iran Iraq
war, Kashmir Issue, Lebanon Problem etc were discussed.
2. Decisions were taken for the safeguard of the
rights of the Palestine people.
3. Decisions about Egypt’s re-entry in the O.I.C
was also taken.
Fifth Islamic Summit
Conference
Date and Place
The fifth conference was held in Kuwait in January 1987.
Participants
44 Islamic countries participated.
Decisions
As usual a few resolutions were passed and more or less the same
issues were dealt with.
Sixth Islamic Summit
Conference
Date and Place
This conference was held in December 1991 at Dakar (Senegal).
Participants
45 countries participated in this conference.
Decisions
Resolutions were passed on many problems like Kashmir,
Afghanistan, Palestine etc and serious concern was also expressed on American
threat of military action against Libya.
Seventh Islamic Summit
Conference
Date and Place
This conference was held in Casablanca (Morocco) in December,
1994.
Decisions
The president of Summit, King Hasan of Morocco, stressed the need
for strengthening Islamic Solidarity and unity of the Islamic Ummah in an
atmosphere of brother hood and concord.
The conference also expressed its determination:
“To the project the
correct image of Islam reflecting the spirit of ‘Ijtehad’ based on the genral
principles of Shariah.”
Benazir Bhutto said:
“Even worse, our enemies
now seek to justify aggression against the Muslim peoples by portraying Islam
as an intolerant doctrine of violence and terror.”
Conclusion
All the summit
conferences clearly shows that the prime objective of O.I.C is to promote
greater harmony and co-operation amongst the Muslim World and to protect their
interest in International system. It also aimed at the advancement of economic,
cultural, scientific, trade and educational interests of the Islamic countries
and to create co-operation amongst them in these spheres. The O.I.C also stood
for the fraternal feelings which had existed for centuries amongst the Muslims
of the World.
