A call to action

However, at this moment when Islam is under siege, the OIC must do more than merely articulate a sense of Muslim grievance. Now, more than ever, is the time for the OIC to live up to its founding principles and fulfil its historic mission. This moribund force must be rejuvenated and focused like never before on the struggles of Muslims world-wide. The OIC was originally conceived of as a potentially unified force in global politics, and while being a potent and influential presence on the world stage remains a distant proposition, there is nevertheless scope for the OIC to be a highly relevant organisation.

The first item of the OIC Charter is the promotion of unity and solidarity among member states and this remains the organisation's most basic function today. It is this lack of unity among member states more than anything else that has kept the OIC an irrelevant and ineffective body. The OIC can also play a vital role in helping to counter the misperception of Islam that exists in the world today. The world must realise the strength of the Muslim world's commitment to fight terrorism and the OIC can be instrumental in countering the misperception of Muslims as apologists for terrorists who are at war with the modern world. Finally, a united and active OIC could help to dispel the adversarial and destructive relationship that has developed between Islam and the West.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

However, the principal crisis that Islam faces is internal not external. Too many of the OIC member states are dictatorships or despotisms that deny their citizens basic political and human rights and too many are impoverished economic backwaters that deny their citizens basic economic and social rights. Muslim countries need to modernise and provide economic, political and human rights to the Muslim ummah. Helping to provide these rights and opportunities is the OIC's historical mission and it is this mission that must be fulfilled for the OIC to be a relevant and effective body today.