Hatred Against Islam Now Political Feast: OIC
SAUDI GAZETTE: DUSHANBE – Islamophobia will dominate the agenda of the 37th session of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) meeting here, marking the first time the Tajik capital has played host to the annual gathering.

The President of the Republic of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, addressed the opening of the three-day conference Tuesday.

“We are happy to notice the recent positive changes and developments in the OIC’s activities as it has increased its international role,” said Rahmon.

OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu highlighted the significance of holding the OIC session in Dushanbe. “The chronicles of Islamic history bear eloquent testimony to the abounding wealth of cultural and edifying legacy, conferred to Islamic civilization, by the illustrious sons of this region,” he said.

Stressing the need to effectively tackle Islamophobia, Ihsanoglu said the hate wave against Islam and Muslim immigrants has become a “political commodity” and a “winning chip” in the hands of political parties during their election campaigns in the West.

Achieving any real progress in this area requires direct and dedicated interaction between OIC member states and the West.

“A high level ministerial meeting must be convened to evolve an Islamic plan for interaction with the West, regarding Islamophobia, and 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. >>> Jassim Alghamdi, SG | Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Don't Link Islam to Terror, Islamic Chief Urges
REUTERS: GENEVA - The world's top diplomat for Islam called on Friday for an end to what he termed efforts to equate the religion with terrorism and said the 'demonization' of Muslims around the world must be fought.

But speaking soon after the U.N. General Assembly passed an Islamic-sponsored resolution condemning "defamation of religion" for the fourth year in a row, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu said his group was committed to respecting freedom of expression.

There was a "rising tide of incitement to religious hatred and discrimination and intolerance targeting Muslims," he told a meeting called by the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) at the United Nations in Geneva. The 57-nation OIC, based in Saudi Arabia, represents 1.5 billion Muslims.

"Attempts to equate Islam with terrorism should be stopped. Stereotyping and demonization of Muslims should be combated," said Ihsanoglu, a Turkish history professor who became OIC Secretary-General in 2005. >>> By Robert Evans | Friday, December 19, 2008

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Muslim World Wants to Shut Down West’s Freedom of Speech
Cartoons courtesy of the Infidel Blogger’s Alliance
INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE: KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: A Muslim political leader urged Western governments Monday to hit out more strongly against acts that are offensive to Islam.

Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, secretary-general of the 56-nation Organization of the Islamic Conference, warned there seemed to be a growing "campaign of hate and discrimination" against Muslims by a small number of individuals and organizations.

In a speech to a conference in Kuala Lumpur on improving ties between Muslims and the West, Ihsanoglu praised Western nations for criticizing acts such as the recent release of an anti-Quran film by a Dutch lawmaker, but said more should have been done.

"Mere condemnation or distancing from the acts of the perpetrators of Islamophobia will not resolve the issue, as long as they remain free to carry on with their campaign of incitement and provocation on the plea of freedom of expression," Ihsanoglu said.

Earlier this year, the release of the film "Fitna" by Dutch politician Geert Wilders sparked protests by Muslims for showing images of terror attacks interspersed with text from the Quran.

Ihsanoglu also urged the media to reject "proponents of hatred and intolerance totally," citing other incidents such as the republishing in Denmark of cartoons considered an insult to the Prophet Muhammad. Muslim Leaders Urge Western Governments to Condemn Acts that Insult Islam >>> (Associated press) | June 9, 2008

DAILY TIMES (Pakistan):
Pakistan to Ask EU to Amend Laws on Freedom of Expression >>> By Tahir Niaz | June 8, 2008

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How Wrong Could the EU Foreign Ministers Have Been?
EURACTIV.COM: EU foreign ministers on Saturday (29 March) broadly condemned a controversial film released by Dutch MP Geert Wilders which portrays Islam as a religion which incites violence, but defended the filmmaker's freedom of expression.

"The film equates Islam with violence and this view is sharply rejected," the ministers said in a statement released after their meeting in Brdo, Slovenia on 29 March. "The problem is not religion, but abusing religion as a pretext for sowing hatred and intolerance," the EU foreign ministers added.

Among other scenes, the 15-minute film includes footage of the September 11 terrorist attacks superimposed alongside verses quoted from the Qur'an, beheadings of hostages and executions of women wearing the hijab (covering the head and body of the wearer).

Muslim organisations condemned the film. Describing it as a "deliberate act of discrimination against Muslims," the secretary general of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, said the footage was designed to "provoke unrest and intolerance".

Similarly, EU foreign ministers condemned the content of the film, but were quick to defend Mr. Wilders' right to make it. "The production of this movie falls within the exercise of the rights all our citizens have," they insisted.

Likewise, the Council of Europe defended Wilders' freedom of expression, albeit "in this case with disappointment and concern," describing its release as a "sad day for European democracy". The principles of European democracy were being used "to promulgate intolerant and deeply offensive stereotypes," said Terry Davis, the secretary general.

Perhaps mindful of the extent of the reaction to the publication of the Mohammed cartoons in 2005, EU foreign ministers stressed that "feeling offended is no excuse for aggression or threats". EU Foreign Ministers Condemn Dutch Film on Islam >>> | March 31, 2008

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