ISTANBUL: Muslim countries have agreed to work together more closely to fight terrorism and other crimes.
The member states in a joint communique adopted at the end of 13th summit stressed that the fight against terrorism is a major priority for all member states, and reiterated its resolve to work together to prevent and suppress terrorism through increased international solidarity and cooperation, in full recognition of the UN’s central role, and in accordance with UN Charter and obligations under international law.
The conference recalled resolution 41/42-POL on Combating Terrorism and Extremism adopted by 42nd CFM and welcomed outcome of the OIC Executive Committee at ministerial level on Combating International Terrorism and Violent Extremism in the Muslim world held in Jeddah on February 15, 2015, as well as outcome of the ministerial brainstorming session in Kuwait in May 2015.
It called upon OIC secretary general to continue efforts to fully implement the results of these conferences. The conference asked the secretary general to continue the ongoing debate on countering terrorism, cross-border crime, and modalities to address extremist and sectarian discourse by convening conferences, symposia and workshops in cooperation with OIC member states and its various institutions and partners.
“This should be done with the participation of political, religious and traditional leaders, psychologists and sociologists, and to hold conferences to review educational curricula in this regard.” It welcomed the holding of the UN-led forum ‘Religions for Peace’ on May 06 in New York.
The conference condemned the terrorist operations which targeted Ben Guerdane city in the Republic of Tunisia and affirmed Islamic countries’ solidarity with and support for the Republic of Tunisia in its efforts to address this scourge. The conference welcomed the initiative of the Republic of Indonesia to establish an OIC Contact Group on Peace and Conflict Resolution and welcomed the Kingdom of Bahrain’s hosting, in November 2015, of a workshop on charitable donations and combating the financing of terrorism and violent extremism, as well as the findings included in the Joint Declaration on the need to undertake an objective and thorough assessment in the sector of non-profit organisations, to identify danger points such as to preempt any risks involving those organisations being used for terrorist goals, and to try and entice them towards the official financial sector in order to guard against the danger of being pushed to resorting to other non-official financial channels.
The conference appreciated the efforts of the Global Counter Terrorism Forum (GCTF) under the co-chairmanship of the Morocco and Netherlands in bringing in effective and coordinated responses to the threat of terrorism on the basis of the rule of law and human rights, and in accordance with the United Nations legal framework. The conference called on the member states to participate in the work of the GCTF. app
Meanwhile, the OIC on Friday reaffirmed support for the just struggle of people of occupied Kashmir for their right to self-determination.
“The conference reaffirms its principled support for the people of Jammu and Kashmir for the realisation of their legitimate right to self-determination, in accordance with relevant UN resolutions and aspirations of the people of Jammu and Kashmir, the communique said.
It further reaffirmed that Jammu and Kashmir is the core dispute between Pakistan and India and its resolution is indispensable for bringing peace in South Asia.
The conference called upon India to implement numerous UN resolutions on Kashmir which declare that the final disposition of the state of Jammu and Kashmir would be made in accordance with the will of the people expressed through the democratic method of a free and impartial plebiscite conducted under the auspices of the United Nations.
