OIC: ORGANIZATION OF ISALMIC CONFERENCE:

The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) is an inter-governmental organization grouping fifty-six States. These States decided to pool their resources together, combine their efforts and speak with one voice to safeguard the interest and ensure the progress and well-being of their peoples and those of other Muslims in the world over.

The Organization was established in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco, on 12 Rajab 1389H (25 September 1969) when the First meeting of the leaders of the Islamic world was held in this city in the wake of the criminal arson perpetrated on 21 August 1969 by Zionist elements against Al-Aqsa Mosque, in occupied Jerusalem. It was indeed in order to defend the honour, dignity and faith of the Muslims, to face this bitter challenge launched in the holy city of Al-Quds so dear to them and against the Mosque of Al-Aqsa, the first Qibla and third holiest Shrine of Islam, that the leaders of the Muslim world, at their Summit in Rabat, seized that event - which brought about unanimous worldwide condemnation and reprobation - to think together of their common cause and muster the force required to overcome their differences, unite and lay the foundations of this large grouping of States, that is, the Organization of the Islamic Conference which they entrusted, in absolute priority, with liberating Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa from Zionist occupation.

Six months after that historical meeting, i.e. in Muharram 1390H (March 1970), the First Islamic Conference of Ministers of Foreign Affairs held in Jeddah set up a permanent General Secretariat, to ensure a liaison among Member States and charged it to coordinate their action. The Conference appointed its Secretary General and chose Jeddah as the Headquarters of the Organization, pending the liberation of Jerusalem, which would be the permanent Headquarters.

Two and a half years after Rabat, in Muharram 1392H (February 1972), the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, meeting in its Third Session, adopted the Charter of the Organization, whose purpose is to strengthen solidarity and cooperation among Islamic States in the political, economic, cultural, scientific and social fields.

OBJECTIVES OF THE ORGANIZATION:

Under the Charter, the Organization aims to:

1. Strengthen:
a) Islamic solidarity among Member States;
b) Cooperation in the political, economic, social, cultural and scientific fields:
c) The struggle of all Muslim people to safeguard their dignity, independence and national rights.

2. Coordinate action to:
a) Safeguard the Holy Places;
b) Support the struggle of the Palestinian people and assist them in recovering their rights and liberating their occupied territories.

3. Work to:
a) Eliminate racial discrimination and all forms of colonialism;
b) Create a favorable atmosphere for the promotion of cooperation and understanding between Member States and other countries.

The Charter also enumerates principles which OIC Member States undertake to inspire themselves from, in order to achieve the objectives of the Organization.

The Charter also enumerates the principles governing OIC activities, namely:
1. Full equality among Member States

2. Observation of the right to self determination and non-interference in the internal affairs of Member States

3. Observation of the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of each State

4. The settlement of any dispute that might arise among Member States by peaceful means such as negotiations, mediation, conciliation and arbitration

5. A pledge to refrain, in relations among Member States, from resorting to force or threatening to resort to the use of force against the unity and territorial integrity or the political independence of any one of them

MAIN BODIES OF OIC:

The Islamic Conference is composed of the following main bodies:

1. The Conference of Kings and Heads of State and Government, is the supreme authority of the Organization which meets once every three years to lay down the Organization's policy

2. The Conference of Foreign Ministers, which meets once a year to examine a progress report on the implementation of its decisions taken within the framework of the policy defined by the Islamic Summit

3. The General Secretariat, which is the executive organ of the Organization, entrusted with the implementation of the decisions of the two preceding bodies

In order to coordinate and boost its action, align its view points and stands, and be credited with concrete results in the various fields of cooperation: political, economic, cultural, social, spiritual and scientific, among Member States, the Organization has created different committees, nearly all, at ministerial level, a number of which are chaired by Heads of State. The Al-Quds Committee, the Standing Committee for Information and Cultural Affairs (COMIAC), the Standing Committee for Economic and Trade Cooperation (COMCEC), the Standing Committee for Scientific and Technical Cooperation (COMSTECH) and the Islamic Peace Committee are the ones Chaired by Heads of State. Fourteen Committees which have been thus established, deal with other important issues such as Palestine, the Sahel, Afghanistan, Kashmir etc.

The number and types of secondary organs and institutions, working toward the achievement of the OIC objectives, have been steadily increasing, and cover various areas of cultural, scientific, economic, legal, financial, sports, technological, educational, media, as well as vocational, social and humanitarian. Depending on their degree of autonomy vis-a-vis the parent organization, they are classified as subsidiary and specialized organs, or affiliated institutions.

Last but not least, it is worth mentioning that by the 3rd year of the World Decade for Cultural Development launched by the United Nations in 1988 under the auspices of UNESCO - the Organization of the Islamic Conference had built Islamic Colleges, and Cultural Institutes and Centres to spread Islamic culture and dispense the Teaching of Arabic, the language of the Holy Qur'an, as well as other languages which is one of the most significant acheievmnets of the organization.

OIC AND ITS CURRENT STATUS:

There has been tremendous stress and emphasis by the Islamic world leaders on OIC to improve its working and introduce new reforms which can revitalize the whole organization and prove to be more benfecial for the Islamic countries.Unfortunately due to events of 9/11 the Muslim world faces enormous problems and the western powers because of their national interests have succceded in sowing the seeds of anarchy and disfragmentation among the Muslim world.This increases the demand of the role of OIC who being the representative organisation of Muslim states has to ensure the security of millions of suffering Muslims.The challenges that are being faced by the Muslim world requires a stronger response of OIC and for that very reason The organization has to focus on the task of socio economic development of the Muslim world.Therefore the organization should concentrate on the poverty reduction and and work for the development of Muslim world's human resources.

Moreover the issues of Chechnya,Kashmir and Palestine remian still unsolved because of tehir utter economic backwardness, lack of military and technological facilities.Iraq is under occupation and there has been enormous level of civilian casualities.All this and alot more of the problems faced by mainly all the Muslim countries of the world.Therefore the reorganization and rejuvenation of the OIC is strongly desired which can provide Muslims a better platform to rid themselves of the unrepresentative and oppressive tempororal authority .There is also a need of a realistic attitude on part of the organization as Muslim Ummah and intellectualls because of their collective efforts can help acheive a greater measure of progress relating to the Muslim world.It is hoped that OIC will relaise the changing needs of the Muslim world and will actively participate in warding off the problems being by the Muslim nations of the world in future.

OIC at the crossroads

Ansar Mahmood Bhatti

The recent OIC summit held at Makkah was an altogether different show from previous conferences in more ways than one. Perhaps for the first time in its history, the OIC dared to send out a loud and clear message to the United States in particular and the West in general that adventurism against Muslim countries might lead to the awakening of the Ummah's conscience. Members minced no words in the Makkah Declaration and Joint CommuniquÈ, asserting that the OIC would come out with a collective "condemnation" in case sanctions were thrust upon Syria or any other member state. Likewise they also warned against an attack on Iran.
We should not lambaste the OIC for limiting itself to "condemnation" and not asking for the complete excommunication of the aggressor, bearing in mind the stark reality that most Muslim countries have been directly or indirectly acting as collaborators with despotic forces. It would therefore not be easy for them to completely change tack at once. In these circumstances the OIC's role acquires added significance for it has to liberate itself from this influence in order to become an efficient, independent and assertive body.
At Makkah, the member countries agreed on crafting a mechanism for the solution of long-standing issues such as Kashmir, Palestine and Cyprus by involving other countries. They also called for promoting intra-OIC trade with a view to making the organisation more responsive to the challenges facing the Muslim world today.
President Musharraf particularly emphasised the need to focus on the Muslim world's socio-economic development. He was even more specific when he said that the organisation should concentrate on poverty reduction and work towards the development of the Muslim world's human resources.
Ostensibly, all these tasks can translate into reality only if there is political will and harmony among member states and, above all, a strong and efficient secretariat. Member countries are in the habit of inducting either apolitical figures or technocrats as secretary generals, people who do not have the knack of running gigantic organisations like the OIC. The current secretary-general, Mr Ekmeleddin, is a professor by profession and has been associated with the organisation in various capacities. But his apolitical status stunts his stature as a mediator, facilitator or, for that matter, a crisis manager when it comes to the settlement of dissent among member countries.
In my view, the secretary-general should be a retired prime minister or at least a veteran foreign minister, with a charismatic personality and vast experience in politics. Popularity amongst member states would be an added bonus. For example, the OIC could have Mahathir Mohammad as its next secretary-general.
I do not see any harm in emulating the European Union model where all key institutions, such as the European Commission, European Parliament and Council of Ministers, are spearheaded by former high-profile politicians. The Commission' s incumbent president is Portugal's former prime minister and his predecessor, Romano Prodi, served as the Italian prime minister. There can be no two views that team performance depends largely on the skipper's ability to lead and assert. A weak and uncharismatic captain can only cause frustration.
Moreover, the OIC is obliged to take a bold stand on Kashmir, as demanded by most Kashmiri leaders. In their view, mere recognition of the Kashmiris' right to self-determination will not solve the problem. For that, the OIC had to exercise great courage and seriousness. Similarly on Cyprus, the Communique said that the matter should be resolved in collaboration with the United Nations.
This is clearly a weak and irrational stand keeping in mind that the UN had already exhausted all its energy in this connection and in the end was forced to eat humble pie.
Muslim leaders spoke at length on how to root out terrorism but failed to utter even a single word about countering propaganda against Islam or revered personalities. Much to the disappointment of all, OIC leaders did not even mention the Denmark incident where a newspaper had printed a blasphemous cartoon of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) with utmost impunity and no fear of any reaction. Adding salt to injury, the Danish prime minister, while speaking via international hook-up, not only defended the newspaper in question but also made it clear that everybody enjoys freedom of expression in his country. As such, he said, he would not take any action against the paper or anybody who commits blasphemy.
The leaders at Makkah vowed to restore a moderate image of Islam, tarnished by a handful of extremists. The challenge for the Muslim Ummah is real, because there is no dearth of politicians in the West who would like to capitalise on all that has been going on since 9/11. Tackling this problem head-on can only be achieved through democratisation of Muslim societies. Among other causes, what feeds the terrorism directed against the West and, in some cases, against Muslims, is the absence of democratic institutions.
Democracy cannot be imposed from without; rather it has to come from within, and the sooner it makes an appearance the better it will be for all and sundry. Unless democratic structures are raised within Muslim states and civil society comes to be considered a major partner in the process of democratisation, the OIC will continue to be nothing more than a government stooge.
The performance of OIC countries in terms of trade and economy has also been extremely disappointing. They control 70 per cent of oil resources and as a whole comprise one-fifth of the world's population, one-sixth of the total land area and are rich in minerals as well. Unfortunately, 22 of the 49 countries are classified as least developing countries. Twenty-three are categorised as being in severe debt while 15 are moderately indebted.
Their predicament is that they trade more with other countries than with each other, a trend that needs to be reversed as rightly pointed out by the Pakistani president during the conference.
Besides, it is mandatory for the OIC to address the issue of brain drain on a war footing. Our scholars and scientists prefer to work abroad where they get better working conditions along with befitting compensation.
Most of our misfortunes emanate from our backwardness in the fields of research and development. We can only hope that the ten-year action plan agreed upon at Makkah will also address the key issue of brain drain.

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OIC at the crossroads



By Tayyab Siddiqui

THE two-day extraordinary summit of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) concluded on December 9 in Makkah with a declaration and a 10-year plan of action to revitalize the organization and meet the aspirations of the Ummah.

The summit was convened at the initiative of King Abdullah to address the global changes and challenges confronting Muslim countries.

The last summit held in Putrajaya in 2003 had deliberated on the role of the Muslim world in international affairs which all agreed was only marginal. Muslims across the world were in a state of disunity and discord, and their religion was the target of western hostility and identified with fanaticism even terrorism.

The summit was, therefore, also held to draw on a strategy “to counter the harsh offensive on Islam from enemies abroad and some of its own children with deviant ideologies.”

These feelings were shared by all Muslim leaders, expressed most eloquently by King Abdullah. “It bleeds the heart of a believer to see how this glorious civilization has fallen from the heights of glory to the ravine of frailty, and how its targets were hijacked by devilish and criminal gangs that spread havoc on earth.”

The summit was seen as a turning point in the Organization of Islamic Conference’s history, as it was also to address the issues of restructuring, reform and redefinition of the OIC mission, charter and objectives.

The mood and expectations of Muslim leaders gathered in Makkah were best articulated by Pakistan. President Musharraf urged the summit participants to work out a strategy for Islamic revival and renaissance, adopt a conciliatory course in the interest of progress and prosperity of Muslims and pursue policies to face formidable challenges on all fronts, in particular share the expanding frontiers of knowledge, education, science and technology.

He underscored the need for establishing a network of centres of excellence in science and technology in the Muslim world. He sounded a note of caution. “The challenge is indeed enormous, but ‘failure is not an option.”

In the backdrop of these assessments and expectations, the result and outcome of the Makkah summit has failed to meet the high hopes vested in it Indeed in many respects it has generated disappointment, owing to its failure to take a balanced view of the world situation. While too much emphasis was laid on fighting extremism and terrorism, the summit failed to comment on the presence of US forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Nor did it express support and solidarity in the Iran and Syria both under severe pressure an threats of invasion by the US. The absence of major Muslim leaders, President Bashan Asad of Syria, Abdelaziz Bouteflika of Algeria and Prime Minister, Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey robbed the summit of its luster.

The Makkah declaration revived the status of the member states in the contemporary world, acknowledging the “dire need of a fresh vision to turn the tide”, and called for “collective will” and “joint Islamic action”. The year 10-year-programme of action” to face the challenges of the Muslim people in the 21st century proposes a wide range of reforms, initiatives and proposals to address the multifarious problems confronting the ummah.

It has proposed the established of a free trade zone for the member-states and welcomed the formation of an forming Islamic international institution to finance commerce and called for increasing the capital of the Islamic Bank. The summit observed that the member-states should allocate resources to preserve the Al Aqsa mosque, support Palestinian institutions and establish the Al Aqsa University in Al Quds.

The meeting renewed its approval of the Sudanese peace agreement and the resolution issued by the 10th OIC conference to establish a fund for reconstruction activities in Sudan. It proposed establishing an independent “Islamic human rights institution”to monitor the rights situation in OIC member: states.

The summit stressed the importance of fighting poverty, unemployment and disease by forming a specialized fund through the Islamic Bank. It decided to take steps towards developing science and technology and to narrow the gap between the Muslim nations and developed countries.

Pakistan had made some extremely useful proposals to lift these Islamic world out of it various dilemmas but these were not included adequately in the plan of action. The suggestions related to (i) an institutional mechanism for conflict prevention and resolution with member-states, (ii) a network of centres of excellence in science and technology, (iii) the establishment of a permanent forum of Islamic thought to provide guidance and opinion, (iv) the allocation of adequate financial resources to implement the proposals, and for this purpose, to commit at least 0.5 per cent of GDP of member states, and a dedicated department in OIC secretariat for promoting intro-OIC trade.

The Makkah summit was heralded as a defining moment for collective efforts and resolve, but judging by its decisions such a verdict would be highly exaggerated. The basic requirements to make Organization of Islamic Conference a living and dynamic instrument of restructuring and a new charter reflecting current realities have been postponed until next summit in Senegal.

Who can dispute President Musharraf’s analysis that we are among the most backward. “Our level of socio-economic development is dismal and indeed distressing. We remain stuck in dire predicament facing formidable challenges on all fronts; political, economic and intellectual. Many Islamic lands remain afflicted with conflict and violence.

Most Islamic societies are struggling to evolve stable institutions for governance. Most of us remain far removed from the expanding frontiers of knowledge, education and science and technology.

Our economies remain fragile and mostly dependent on raw material production. Our weaknesses and vulnerabilities, external and internal, are visible. Our differences and divisions are exploited. Our failure to secure a just resolution of disputes such as Palestine and Kashmir has spawned desperation, confusion and extremism. We need to look within, we need to search our soul.

Do we want to continue in our state of apathy or reshape our destiny. Clearly the choice is between getting permanently marginalized or re-emerging as a progressive society standing proudly in the comity of nations.”

This is a fair and balanced portrayal of the ills that plague OIC member states. The deliberations and decisions of the summit, however, failed as in the past to seize the moment and agree on concrete and tangible action fully backed by collective will and adequate financial resources.

OIC today stands at the crossroads of history, but there is nothing to warrant the optimism that decisions of the summit could change the destiny of the member-states in any meaningful way.

An Islamic renaissance can be brought about only by sincere, sustained and collective efforts, through genuine, committed and representative leadership which sadly is lacking among the present leaders of the Ummah. Indeed, some of them are part of the problem and not solution.

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[COLOR=Blue][B]The best way to predict the future is to invent it[/B][/COLOR]

PEOPLE living in OIC countries had pinned high hopes on the organization’s extraordinary summit and are now waiting to see how far its 10-year plan of action will help to realize the “vision to turn the tide” that the OIC has set in the Makkah declaration.

The statistics that paint the true picture of state and society in member countries of the OIC are too depressing but well known to the readers of this newspaper. One simple statistic aptly sums up their collective plight: comprising over 20 per cent of the world population OIC countries have been incapable of generating even five per cent of global wealth and their share continues to decline even now.

As a matter of fact they were better off in the mid-18th century than they are now. The Ottoman and Mughal empires together accounted for over 30 per cent of the world GDP during their times.

For the loss of the people and areas of these two old empires that are now outside the OIC, there have been additions of people, resources and areas in countries of Central Asia, Southeast Asia and Africa into the OIC that more than balance the overall equation.

Therefore, with their share in the creation of the wealth of the world shrinking to under five per cent of the world GDP, their economic contribution now is one-sixth of what it was about 250 years ago. The state of their economies is reflected in their powerlessness in the political and other spheres of their individual and national lives.

It would help to correctly address our challenges when we realize that the single most important factor that has kept weakening our economic and political power and increasing social problems is an event that also happened about the same time in history — about 250 years ago. Even now, it continues to cast its long shadows on every society.

It is not for nothing that the industrial revolution has been called the ‘most important event in human evolution in over 8,000 years’. Unfolding since some 250 years ago, it has benefited all those that have embraced it except the Muslim world that has almost refused to acknowledge it. Consequently, Muslims are being pushed into the periphery.

The industrial revolution involves more than just science and technology or a smattering of trade and industrial activity and requires a restructuring of the social, economic and political underpinnings of society if that society is to succeed. But its rewards lie in the creation of new sources of wealth and power that are not dependent upon the possession of Neolithic assets and generate unending benefits.

In short, the reforms and restructuring required for OIC countries to succeed lie in changing the relationship between society and the state and redefining the place of their citizens.

Many in OIC countries are asking how the 10-year plan of action purports to ‘turn the tide’ without changing the mediaeval underpinnings of systems that have produced their decline in the first place. The need for internal reforms stems from the reality that if we are not the solution to our problems, there is no other solution.

Nor can we continue to hide behind scapegoats and keep pointing fingers at others for all that ails society in OIC countries.

Most OIC governments must acknowledge that they control the entire social, economic and political spectrum in their countries and that not many opportunities are left open to those who are not part of the government or not ‘blessed’ by the government in one way or another.

Eliminating poverty and generating employment opportunities cannot materialize in an environment where government monopolies are dominant in every sphere of national life.

These governments need to ease their heavy hand over the economy and polity of their countries and encourage greater participation by their people. The resounding successes of Dubai and Malaysia in their own, very different, fields are proof of what OIC countries can achieve by giving greater space to their people.

There is of course, justification for the complaints voiced by the OIC regarding the current hate and bigotry against Muslims. But there are plenty of things that are actually wrong and we should be mature enough to admit the facts and work to address our weaknesses. This does not mean that we should submit to the new labels being tagged to our image.

The OIC has done wise to address the issues created in the post 9/11 world and the summit has strongly voiced its condemnation and called for extensive inter-faith and inter-state dialogue for better understanding and respect all around.

But the problems afflicting OIC member countries are much older than the events of 9/11. And even if there were no 9/11, the OIC countries have to get around to addressing the many internal challenges their societies have been facing since long. Their success or failure would depend much more on how they address their internal challenges than anything else.

There are also many linkages between external and internal problems confronting OIC states. Their strong commitment to fight terrorism should also resonate in changing the mediaeval underpinnings of their societies and developing systems that would be more inclusive and incorporate their people into the peaceful and productive conduct of their national life.

That is not only one of the fundamental principles of good governance supported by the OIC in its declaration; it is also good state policy because the outcasts of one society can hardly be expected to become members of the mainstream in another.

More by deeds than by declarations, the OIC can convey to its people whether the 10-year plan of action will help in removing the poverty and powerlessness that have enveloped their societies for over 250 years. The need is for the emergence of a clearer and more categorical strategy.

Without addressing the changes that would finally inaugurate the industrial revolution in their societies, OIC countries cannot expect to reverse the tide that has been turning against them. Many people in the OIC also believe that the need reform and restructuring of the relationship between society and state can best be helped by carrying out the following five steps given below:

— building capabilities in their peoples through extensive programmes of modern education and skill development

— empowering their people through reforms in social, economic and political governance by opening up equal opportunities

— instituting work ethics as the basic value system for rewards and punishment

— providing equal protection to all through the rule of law

— curbing extremism, violence and terrorism as means of settlement of disputes

Of course, these objectives can only be achieved gradually and different countries will have to follow different timeframes. But these five steps impart a clearer sense of direction and help better in the realization of the “vision to turn the tide” that the OIC has set form in the Makkah declaration.


By Syed Mohibullah Shah

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[COLOR=Blue][B]The best way to predict the future is to invent it[/B][/COLOR]

Observer status at the OIC

PRIOR to his departure for India to attend its Republic Day parade on January 26 as chief guest, Saudi King Abdullah gave an interview to a private Indian TV channel. In this interview, it was suggested that India be granted observer status at the OIC as has been given to Russia which, like India, is also a non-Muslim country but with a sizable Muslim population — although Saudi authorities later said that the monarch had been misquoted.

It may be recalled that following an arson attack on Al Aqsa mosque in August 1969, which outraged Muslims all over the world, an Islamic summit was held in Rabat in September 1969 to condemn the sacrilege against one of the most venerated places of Islam and to coordinate efforts for safeguarding Islam’s holy places. However, the Muslim leaders, who gathered in Rabat, also decided to institutionalize cooperation among Muslim states in economic, social, cultural, scientific and other vital fields of activities by establishing a permanent organization for this purpose. A charter of the proposed body of the Islamic countries, named Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC), was adopted in 1971 which specified its objectives and principles laying great emphasis on promoting Islamic solidarity.

According to its charter, the OIC is composed of the states which participated in the summit of kings and heads of state/government held in Rabat in September 1969 and also attended the foreign ministers conferences held in Jeddah and Karachi in March 1970 and December 1970 respectively. Every other Muslim state is, however also, eligible to join the OIC on submitting an application expressing its desire and preparedness to adopt this charter.

India made every possible effort to participate in the Rabat summit in 1969 on the basis of having a large Muslim community in its population. However, Pakistan opposed this move and argued that India was not an Islamic country and that it also had a record of treating its Muslim population ruthlessly. Some Arab states still favoured India’s participation in the summit. However, Pakistan’s strong opposition, based on its principled and logical stand, forced them to capitulate and India was kept out of the Islamic summit.

This setback did not, however, deter India from making relentless efforts, albeit in vain, to make inroads into the OIC apparently with no cogent reason except that it probably wanted to deprive Pakistan from enjoying unequivocal support in the Islamic world through this platform for the Kashmir cause. India’s case has, however, gone from bad to worse, particularly after the destruction of the historic Babri mosque in 1992 and the killing of thousands of Muslims in its aftermath as well as its growing intimate relationship with Israel which is considered an arch-enemy of the Islamic world.

The charter of the OIC clearly stipulates that only the Muslim countries willing to promote the organization’s objectives were eligible to become its members. In this context it may, however, be of interest to note that Turkey, which has an overwhelming Muslim population, did not seek OIC’s full membership as its constitution did not allow it to join an organization that has religious undertones. The Turkish parliament, therefore, had to make suitable amendment in the Turkish constitution to remove this snag and only then did Turkey apply for the membership of the OIC. It follows from this that India cannot become a member of the OIC as it cannot promote its objectives as that would be inconsistent with its secular constitution.

When the second Islamic summit was held in Lahore in February 1974, the then president of Uganda, Idi Amin, declared that he would also attend the summit. Uganda was not an Islamic country and, therefore, its participation in the summit was in conflict with the OIC charter. However, those who were at the helm of the state affairs in Pakistan at the time allowed Idi Amin to attend the summit and admitted Uganda as a member of the OIC.

Regrettably, non-adherence of the criteria laid down in the charter for admission of members into the organization led a number of other non-eligible countries, like Benin and Sierra Leone to join the OIC as full-fledged members which not only set an undesirable precedent but has also created an anomalous situation which needs to be rectified. However, one does not really know how it would be possible to do so at this stage.

There is an increasing number of requests for obtaining observer status at the OIC. The case of Islamic states eligible for membership of the organization, according to the provisions of the charter and wishing to follow the activities of the OIC in observer capacity provisionally, prior to applying for membership, is simple and would present no difficulty. Similarly, governmental organizations, both international and regional, can also be granted observer status, in accordance with the conditions and regulations provided for in the statutes and on the basis of reciprocity.

However, the admission of non-Muslim countries seeking accession as observers at the OIC necessitates a thorough review. It is believed that the OIC has already set up a committee to review the current procedures for the grant of observer status to non-Muslim states. It is understood that under the existing rules full membership may be granted on the fulfilment of some prescribed conditions which are not included in the rules pertaining to the grant of observer status.

As a matter of fact, all non-eligible countries and organizations applying for observer status at the OIC should also be asked to express their willingness and capability to work for the realization of the objectives of the organization enunciated in its charter. After all, observer status is quasi-membership to the OIC and therefore, the observers are also expected to fulfil their obligations. Observer status should be suspended or withdrawn from an observer if it fails to fulfil its obligations.

By Ghayoor Ahmed

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[COLOR=Blue][B]The best way to predict the future is to invent it[/B][/COLOR]