OIC in 21st century

The Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) came into being on 25 September 1969 in the wake of Zionist arson attack on Al-Aqsa Mosque, perpetrated on 21 August 1969.
After the attack, the leaders of the Muslim countries gathered in Rabat, Morocco and decided to forge a platform from where they could speak with one voice in order to safeguard the interests of the Muslims world.
The OIC was initially formed with a single point agenda - to liberate Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa from Zionist occupation, but gradually it was transformed into a political alliance, meant to tackle the challenges facing the Muslims.
The critics are, nevertheless, unanimous on the point that the OIC has miserably failed to address all issues that the Muslim world is confronted with, including that of Palestine and Kashmir.
I had the opportunity to participate in a symposium, organised by the Center for Strategic Research, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Turkey, last week.
The symposium was primarily a think-tank of the member states, which had gathered to finalise recommendations, ahead of the OIC Foreign Ministers summit, held in Istanbul from June 14-16.
There I had the chance to study, in depth, the working and worth of the OIC and its future role in the resolution of the out standing issues.
The OIC, in my view, has not yet taken a start as a dynamic, vibrant and effective outfit, as envisaged in its charter.
The organisation has completed 34 years of its existence but it has failed to be a panacea for the problems the Muslim world is facing these days.
The reasons of failure of the OIC are multi-faceted, with leadership and identity crises being at the top. If one simply compares the preamble of the UN charter with that of the OIC, it will become evident that the OIC is there to serve only the interests of the governments and states and that the people have no say in its affairs.
The preamble of the UN charters begins with the phrase, "We, the peoples of the United Nations", while the preamble of the OIC reads," We, the representatives of the following states".
There is no second opinion that OIC has hitherto been acting as a stooge to the governments. It should be very clear to all and sundry that unless democratic structures within the Muslim states are improved and the civil society is considered as a major partner in the process of democratisation, this organisation would continue to be merely a showpiece.
The OIC has to readjust itself to the newly evolving conditions, in order to play its truly constructive role in the world as well regional affairs.
It has to support, more vigorously, the rights of its member states and lay special emphasis for the early solution of all outstanding conflicts.
The world, for Muslims, was changed after 9/11 and the men of the faith became an easy target of criticism by the West. It was the proper time for the OIC to act judiciously and promptly to counter all these allegations but to the disappointment of all, it failed again.
The reason being obvious, that most of the member states do not represent their people and that democracy in these countries is still a distant dream.
The leadership is more concerned about its own well being instead of the people's. Their internal divisions have provided their opponents with a chance to exploit this situation and use them for their ulterior motives.
Moreover, the gulf between the rulers and the ruled, in the OIC member states, is so wide that it has virtually trampled the essence of democracy and a society where the rights of the common people are respected the most.
With this gap wide open, we should not expect any miracles to happen and put the things in order.
Another ample proof of OIC's failure is the non-settlement of old disputes like Palestine and Kashmir.
These problems are with us for so many years, but the OIC has never taken bold stand on these issues. Its attitude has so far been highly apologetic for reasons best known to all. Almost all the Arab countries are under the immense pressure of the United States.
The others are also not an exception. After Communism, the West now fears Islam the most and considers it its enemy.
This misconception will have to be changed once and for all, for which special conferences on Islamophobia ought to be arranged in different European capitals in collaboration with the OIC.
The West needs to be told that Islam is a religion of tolerance and it has nothing to do with terrorism or intolerance.
In today's world, it's simply impossible for weak and disjointed organisations to survive for long.
Today's world is only for the fittest - a reality that the OIC leadership seems to be oblivious of. The organisation's future policies must be in line with this fact.
Despite all 'ifs' and 'buts', the OIC needs to cultivate working relations with the United States as well. The US, at this particular juncture when war against terrorism is at its peak, needs to be briefed about the misunderstandings it has about Islam and Muslims.
According to a poll, about 65 per cent of Americans don't understand the correct Islam. I am sure, nobody would mind if the OIC Foreign Ministers took a trip to Washington to talk friendship with the Americans, under the doctrine of necessity.
Muslim intelligentsia's are equally to be blamed for not projecting and defending Islam against Western onslaughts. Look at the titles of the books published in the West on Islam, Jihad and Muslims during the last few years.
Each and every title carries pictures of men or women with guns in their hands, implying the fact that all Muslims are terrorists ".
We cannot quote of even a single book authored by a Muslim scholar, in response to these. The question is that why has there not been any intellectual activity on our part.
The answer is very simple -- we have not done enough to deal with the problem of brain drain.
As a matter of fact, Muslim intellectuals prefer to stay out of their countries since they lack research facilities and apt recognition of their calibre at home.
This is indeed a serious challenge which the OIC has to take on immediately and effectively by encouraging research and development activities at home and an increased level of scientific co-operation among the member states.
The OIC countries have also shown a lacklustre performance in the field of trade and economy.
Despite controlling 70 per cent of oil resources, they have miserably failed to assert themselves as sovereign and independent states. The OIC countries are blessed with an abundance of other resources as well.
The 57 countries, as a whole, make up 1/5 of the world's population, 1/6 of the total land area and are rich in oil and other minerals.
Unfortunately, 22 of the 49 countries are classified as the least developing countries. While 23 are categorised as in severe debt and 15 are moderately indebted.
Moreover, the OIC countries only make up 4.7 percent of the world's GDP and 8.6 percent of world's merchandise trade. Oil and agriculture are the main exports of almost half of the OIC countries. The OIC countries trade more with other countries than with each other.
The trend has to be reversed and efforts should be made to promote intra-OIC trade activities.
There is indeed a big room for inter-Muslim regional group trade. Muslim leaders should keep in mind the experience of the European Union, which has itself evolved as a great economic power.
Without a robust economy and a set of revolutionary reforms, the goals of progress and prosperity can never be achieved.
The OIC member states are no doubt quick in the adoption of resolutions but least interested in their implementation.
This was what the Foreign Ministers of the OIC lamented, when they met in Istanbul from June 14-16 in connection with 31st OIC FMs summit.
Muslim leaders badly lacked the political will and credibility at home and abroad, which is the root cause of all their misfortunes. A lack of vision is also missing in today's leadership.
The Muslim countries should immediately forge a defence pact and introduce sweeping reforms for the rule of law and democracy.
On the cultural side, means should be developed to foster understanding and shared values between Muslims and non-Muslims, as well as among Muslim societies and countries.
More co-operation is needed to produce knowledge and the establishment of centers for scientific research should also be given top priority.
The status of women is a major issue which Muslim countries should address. Progress in gender issues is closely related to economic development and democratisation.
And in the end, a few words about Professor Dr Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu of Turkey, the newly elected Secretary General of the OIC.
He was elected at the Istanbul OIC FM's meeting. He secured 32 votes while his opponents from Malaysia and Bangladesh could secure 12 votes each. For the first time in the history of the OIC that the Secretary General was elected through ballot.
Ihsanoglu is currently the Director General of Islamic Conference Organisation Research Center for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA).
A Secretary General from Turkey can really make a difference and introduce the desired reforms within the OIC, with the help and support of the present Turkish government, which is in full command of the affairs and enjoys the absolute support of its people.
It's perhaps the only government in the Muslim world that truly represents its people.
Ekmeleddin understands the nitty-gritty of the OIC because of his attachment with it from the beginning.
We can therefore hope that he will be able to bring about revolutionary changes in the OIC and make it a dynamic and progressive organisation that would heal the wounds of the Muslim world, in a true sense.