OIC Press Release

In the wake of recent developments on the Iraq crisis and the ultimatum issued by the American President on his intention to attack Iraq, the Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Dr Abdelouahed Belkeziz, has stated that the Organization rejects any military attack against Iraq. He also said that the OIC was keen on ensuring the security, sovereignty and unity of Iraq’s territory, and called for a peaceful settlement of the Iraq question within the framework of the United Nations and in accordance with resolutions of international legitimacy. Dr. Belkeziz’s statement came in an address he made on Tuesday 18th March 2003 before the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva.

The Secretary General added that, "a US-led unjustified attack against Iraq makes us apprehensive of human catastrophe to be unleashed in the whole of the Middle-East region. It would mean the killing of thousands, wounding of tens of thousands and displacement of hundreds of thousands as refugees, as well as total destruction and a humanitarian tragedy whose scale cannot be predicted."

He noted that the intended attack against Iraq was as a unilateral action which falls outside the framework of the United Nations and could destroy the authority of the Security Council, undermine the bases of international law and defy the international antiwar feelings. He also stressed that the issue of eliminating weapons of mass destruction needed to encompass all the states in the Middle East in accordance with relevant Security Council resolutions.

The Israeli practices in the occupied Palestinian territories, Dr Belkeziz hinted, constituted a blatant violation of human rights. He therefore called on the Human Rights Commission to step up its monitoring and documentation of human rights abuses and to find ways of preventing Israel from perpetrating these acts.

On the other hand, Dr. Belkeziz referred to the Kashmir problem which he said could only be solved through the implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions. He also mentioned the tragedy inflicted upon the Muslim population of the Indian State of Gujarat. The upholding of the principles of human rights, he said, had suffered serious setbacks in terms of new legislation and administrative measures taken by certain states which had hitherto been known for defending human rights.

The OIC Secretary General drew the attention of the Human Rights Commission to the anti-Islamic campaigns and unfair accusations that emerged after the events of 11 September 2001 which, according to him, intended to hold all Muslims responsible for the actions of a few Muslims who were thought to be the perpetrators, even though the Islamic World vehemently condemned the attacks.

Many Muslims in many parts of the world, Dr Belkeziz said, suffered serious abuses of their human and political rights and became victims of oppression and discrimination. He observed that leading the world to the path of justice, equality and peace required the implementation of the Programme of Action adopted at the World Conference against Racism, held in Durban in 2001; the resolutions of the International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Mexico; and of the Conference on Sustainable Development also held last year in South Africa.

The OIC Secretary General declared his backing for those calling for support to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to enable it discharge its duties fully despite the difficult circumstances surrounding it. He congratulated Ambassador Mrs Najat Al-Hajaj on her election to head the 59^th Session of the Human Rights Commission. He also congratulated Mr. Sergio Vieira de Millo the High Commissioner for Human Rights on his assumption of the important post. Dr Belkeziz praised the efforts made by Mrs Mary Robinson in the area of Human Rights and for her courageous stand for the support and defence of these rights in delicate circumstances during her term of office.

---------------------