NEED TO CRAFT ISLAMIC PLAN FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH WEST

By Muin Abdul Majid

DUBAI, May 19 (Bernama) -- Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC)
secretary-general Prof Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu has called for the convening of a
high-level ministerial meeting to evolve an Islamic plan for interaction with
the West, regarding Islamophobia.

He said the plan should also include mechanisms towards "defending our just
causes and in facing up to the mounting hate wave against Islam".

"I also suggest that the question of Islamophobia be included in all member
states' interactions with their Western counterparts," he said in his remarks
at the 37th Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers which opened in
Dushanbe, Tajikistan on Tuesday.

He alluded to the decision to ban the building of minarets in Switzerland,
following a referendum approved by the Swiss people, and became a law.

"We perceived this act as an ominous paradigm shift, raising the
manifestations of Islamophobia in Europe from the level of individuals to that
of laws," said Ihsanoglu.

He argued that it had also institutionalised and constitutionalised
prejudice against Muslims and contravened Muslims' human rights regarding
their liberty of religion.

According to Ihsanoglu, the new Swiss law had engendered "grave
ramifications".

"In fact, the hate wave against Islam and Muslim immigrants became a
political commodity and a winning chip in the hands of political parties during
their election campaigns," he noted.

The secretary-general said achieving any real progress in this area would
need a direct and dedicated interaction on the part of OIC member states with
the officials of the West.

Malaysia is represented at the three-day meeting by Minister in the Prime
Minister's Department Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz.

Besides the need to enhance economic cooperation, Malaysia will also raise
issues concerning poverty alleviation and collaboration in the field of science
and technology.

-- BERNAMA



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