OIC - Resolutions

ON THE SAFEGUARDING OF THE RIGHTS OF MUSLIM COMMUNITIES AND MINORITIES IN NON-OIC MEMBER STATES

The Twenty-fifth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (Session for a better future for the Peoples of the Islamic Ummah), held in Doha, State of Qatar from 17-19 Dhul Quida 1418H ( 15-17 March, 1998),

Recalling that Muslim communities and minorities living in Non-OIC Member States account for over one third of the Islamic Ummah;

Recalling also the principles and objectives of the OIC Charter, the Resolutions adopted by the Sessions of the Islamic Summit Conferences, the Sessions of Islamic Conferences of Foreign Ministers and international conventions, declarations and agreements, particularly those calling for observance of human rights namely political, social, cultural, economic rights and religious freedoms;

Further recalling UN General Assembly Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief;

Reaffirming its commitment to Muslim communities and minorities living in Non-OIC Member States and expressing its concern at the forms of intolerance towards some of these communities and minorities in particular in the western hemisphere;

Condemning persecution and violations, especially those committed by aggression and occupation forces against Muslim communities and minorities in a number of non-OIC Member States;

Having considered the Report submitted by the Secretary General on the situation of Muslim Communities and minorities (Document No. ICFM/25-98/MM/D.1),

1. Expresses its satisfaction at the efforts exerted by the Secretary General for the implementation of the resolutions adopted on the Islamic Communities and Minorities in Non-Member States particularly concerning the setting up of a Contact Group among the Member States within the United Nations in New York and Geneva to deal with cases of violation of the rights of Muslim communities and minorities in non-Member States.

2. Emphasizes the need to see to it that the Muslim communities and minorities in non-OIC Member States preserve their religious and cultural identity, and enjoy equal treatment as far as rights, obligations and duties are concerned, and have access to all their civic and religious rights without discrimination or distinction.

3. Reaffirms that preservation of the rights of Muslim communities and minorities in non-OIC Member States is, essentially, the responsibility of the governments of these states, on the basis of abidance by the principles of International Law and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.

4. Calls upon Member States and the OIC Subsidiary, Specialized and Affiliated Institutions, including the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (ISESCO) as well as non-governmental Islamic organisations, bodies and institutions, to provide the OIC General Secretariat, step by step, with available information, studies and statistics on the situation of Muslim communities and minorities in non-OIC Member States so as to establish an advanced data-base which enables the General Secretariat to perform the tasks entrusted to it concerning these Muslim communities and minorities in a manner that satisfies the aims and objectives of the OIC.

5. Invites the OIC General Secretariat to receive representatives of some Muslim Communities and Minorities in non-OIC Member States aimed at closely being informed about the conditions of these Muslim communities and minorities whom they represent; or to get information on Muslim Minorities, Communities and Societies through these representatives, this is to be done within the framework of respect for the sovereignty of the states in which they live in accordance with paragraph 5 of Resolution No. 38/24-P adopted by the Twenty-fourth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers.

6. Urges Member States to pay special attention to those Muslim communities and minorities in non-OIC Member States who are exposed to persecution or oppression because of their religious beliefs and to know their needs which are to be communicated to the Member States so as to provide the necessary capabilities - material, human and financial. Also to intensify the cultural and educational Islamic activities as well as various human assistance so as to accord more attention to improving the general conditions of the Muslim communities and minorities in non-OIC Member States in general.

7. Invites Member States to exert further efforts in order to inform, within the OIC Member States, about the reality of the problems of Muslim communities and minorities in non-OIC Member States.

8. Urges Member States to coordinate efforts for preparing able workers who can perform Islamic Dawah missions among Muslim communities and minorities in various countries of the world. These workers should include also qualified women. A series of integrated educational books on Islam, its rituals and principles should be written. These series should be simplified and in the form of publications or modern audio-visual messages. Special attention must be paid to translating thoroughly this material into the languages of the areas inhabited by Muslim communities and minorities.

9. Requests the OIC General Secretariat and the Islamic organisations and bodies that are members of the OIC Committee for the Coordination of Islamic Action, to hold an early meeting to consider drawing up an action plan on preserving the rights of Muslim communities and minorities in non-OIC Member States.

10. Requests the OIC General Secretariat to make contacts with the governments of the states that have Muslim communities and minorities in order to identify with problems and needs and elicit the view of these States on ways to evolve a cooperation formula with the OIC aimed at making the required contributions for improving the conditions of these Muslim communities and minorities and preserving their religious and cultural identity, while giving priority to contacts with governments of non-OIC Member States that have Muslim communities and minorities confronting pressing problems.

11. Urges the OIC Member States to exert efforts with governments of Non-OIC Member States where violations of the rights of Muslim communities and minorities take place so as to urge them to take necessary and immediate procedures to stop these violations and restore matters to normal course.

12. Commends the efforts of the Contact Group requested to Study the conditions of the Muslim Minorities in New York and Geneva and encourages it to deal with cases of violation of the rights of these Muslim minorities and communities in non-Member States. It also urges the Contact Group to hold meetings at Ministerial level whenever necessary.

13. Hails the OIC Group in Geneva for its efforts and active participation in the deliberations of the Sub-committee for combating intolerance and for the protection of minorities, in defense of the rights of Muslim communities and minorities in non-OIC Member States.

14. Invites the OIC General Secretariat to follow up the UN activities relevant to the minorities issue so as to be informed about developments on the situation of Muslim communities and minorities in non-OIC Member States, and to submit a report thereon to the next meeting of the Group of Experts.

15. Reaffirms the commitment of Member States to respect the rights of non-Muslim communities and minorities living in their territories, in accordance with the sublime teachings of Islam; denounces the allegations of some quarters concerning the treatment of these minorities; and requests the OIC Group of Experts on Minorities to pay special attention to this question.

16. Welcomes the recommendation contained in the report of the Third Meeting of the Inter-Governmental Group of Experts Entrusted with the Following-up of the Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam, to coordinate with the Expert Group on Considering the Conditions of Muslim Minorities and Communities in non-OIC Member States with a view to undertaking a comprehensive survey of the conditions of Muslim communities and minorities there, and, at a later stage, to make the necessary arrangements at international fora for preserving their rights and invites the Group of Experts on Muslim Communities and Minorities in non OIC-Member States to continue its work steadily.

17. Requests the Secretary General to prepare a report on the matter and submit it to the Twenty-sixth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers

RESOLUTION NO. 47/25-P.

ON QUESTION OF MUSLIMS IN SOUTHERN PHILIPPINE

Bearing in mind the previous resolutions of the OIC and the recommendations of the Six-member Committee on the question of Muslims in Southern Philippines;

Recalling the Tripoli Agreement signed on 23 December 1976, under the auspices of the OIC, between the Government of the Philippines and the Moro National Liberation Front which the signatory parties agreed to consider as the basis for a political, permanent, just and comprehensive solution to the question of Southern Philippines within the framework of the national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of the Philippines;

Also recalling that in accordance with the 2 Memoranda of Understanding by which the Government of the Philippines and the Moro National Liberation Front concluded two rounds of preliminary talks, held in Tripoli, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya on 3-4 October, 1992 and in Cipanas, Western Java, Republic of Indonesia on 14-16 April, 1993, the two parties agreed to conduct official peace negotiations for the full implementation in letter and spirit of the 1976 Tripoli Agreement;

Further recalling the results of the four rounds of formal peace talks held in Jakarta between the Government of the Philippines and the Moro National Liberation Front;

Commending the agreement reached by the participants in the Fourth Round of Formal Peace Talks to reaffirm all the points of agreement in the 1994, 1995 and 1996 Interim Agreements and to include them in the Final Agreement provided for in the 1976 Tripoli Agreement,

1. Welcomes the "e;Peace Agreement"e; between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Moro National Liberation Front initialed on 30 August 1996 in Jakarta and officially signed on 2 September 1996 in Manila.

2. Appreciates the important steps already taken to fully implement the Agreement and calls on both the GRP and the MNLF to preserve the gains achieved as a result of the signing of the "Peace Agreement".

3. Pays tribute to the leadership of the Moro National Liberation Front under theChairmanship of Professor Nur Misuari, as the sole legitimate representative of Muslims in Southern Philippines ("Bangsamoro people"), for their courage, politicalvision and wisdom which paved the way for the ultimate achievement of a political, just, comprehensive, and final solution to the question of Muslims in Southern Philippines.

4. Pays tribute to the role of the Government of the Republic of the Philippines under the wise leadership of His Excellency President Fidel Ramos which led to the establishment of the Southern Philippines Council for Peace and Development and, consequently, to the achievement of the peaceful, durable, comprehensive and just settlement of the problem of Southern Philippines.

5. Pays tribute to the role of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia, under the sagacious leadership of His Excellency President Soeharto, in facilitating the peace process culminating in the signing of the Final Peace Agreement on 2 September 1996.

6. Also pays tribute to the role of the Government of the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, under the wise leadership of His Excellency Colonel Muammar Qaddafi, in achieving the Tripoli Agreement of 1976 and in hosting the first exploratory talks in Tripoli from 3 to 4 October, 1992.

7. Expresses satisfaction for the efforts exerted by the Ministerial Committee of Six, under the Chairmanship of His Excellency Mr. Ali Alatas, the Foreign Minister of Indonesia, and the membership of the Libyan Jamahiriya, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Republic of Senegal, People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Republic of Somalia as well as the efforts exerted by the OIC Secretary General, to find a political, just, comprehensive, honourable and final solution to the problem of Muslims in Southern Philippines.

8. Expresses satisfaction for the positive contribution of the OIC Observer Team manned by Indonesian officers in maintaining the ceasefire and thereby creating conducive atmosphere for the attainment of the Peace Agreement and their role in the implementation phase of the Agreement.

9. Urges the Member States, the OIC subsidiary organs, specialised and affiliated institutions, including the Islamic Development Bank, to increase their economic, financial, technical and material assistance for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the Southern Philippines through the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and/or the Southern Philippines Council for Peace and Development (SPCPD) under the leadership of the MNLF.

10. Decides to maintain the status and the participation of the MNLF in the activities of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference in its capacity as the sole legitimate representative of the Bangsamoro people in Southern Philippines aimed at improving their conditions in accordance with the Peace Agreement.

11. Requests the Ministerial Committee of the Six and the OIC Secretary General to continue extending assistance as appropriate for the full implementation of the Peace Agreement during the transitional period pending the establishment of the regular autonomous region in Southern Philippines.

12. Urges the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Moro National Liberation Front to take the necessary steps for the implementation of the peace agreement so as to ensure an auspicious environment for development and stability in Southern Philippines.

13. Urges the Member States to contribute to mobilize a broad international support to both parties of the Peace Agreement aimed at enabling them to achieve peace, development and prosperity in the Southern Philippines.

14. Requests the Secretary General to follow up the full implementation of the "Peace Agreement" and to submit a report thereon to the Twenty-sixth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers.

RESOLUTION NO. 48/25-P

ON THE SITUATION OF TURKISH MUSLIM MINORITY IN WESTERN THRACE

Reaffirming its commitment to Muslim communities and minorities living in Non-OIC Member States;

Keeping in mind that the Turkish Muslim Minority in Western Thrace, is an integral part of the Muslim World;

Recalling the principles and objectives of the OIC Charter, the Resolutions adopted by the Sessions of the Islamic Summit Conferences, Islamic Conferences of Foreign Ministers and international conventions, declarations and agreements, calling for observance of human rights namely political, social, cultural, economic rights and freedom of worship, and most particularly the Lausanne Agreement which calls for observance of the right for the Muslim minority in Western Thrace to use their Turkish language and practice their religious rites as well as to the free election of their representatives in all matters;

Further recalling UN General Assembly Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief;

Regretting that the violation of the minority rights and fundamental freedoms of the Turkish Muslim Minority in Western Thrace is continuing;

Keeping in mind that the rights and freedoms of the Turkish Muslim Minority in Western Thrace are defined and protected by multilateral and bilateral Treaties and Agreements,

1. Deplores the juridical harassment aimed at the elected Mufti of Xanthi, Mr. Mehmet Emin Aga, and his sentencing to imprisonment.

2. Expresses its concern on the obstruction of the building of Kimmeria Mosque.

3. Requests that the steps for the election of the administration board of the Wakfs are taken to enable a better administration of the Wakfs which will promote the religious and educational activities.

4. Urges Greece to take all measures to restore the rights of the Turkish Muslim Minority in Western Thrace and urgently recognize the elected Muftis of Xanthi and Komotini as the official Muftis,

5. Requests the Secretary General to monitor the situation of the Turkish Muslim Minority in Western Thrace and to report to the Twenty-sixth Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers.

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