UN, OIC and the Muslim world

I believe time has come for both the United Nations and the OIC to jointly consider ways and means for the preparation of a common strategy which would enable 1.3 billion Muslims in the world to focus not only within themselves but also question why misperceptions about Muslims and Islam are gaining the upper hand in many parts of the world. In these sensitive times many are disregarding the fact that a great majority of the world Muslim population supports human development, the MDGs, a widening of democracy and human rights. What is gaining attention is the killing of innocent civilians in Madrid and the grisly beheading of isolated individuals. Islam, the fastest growing religion in the world is not only becoming controversial but Muslims are being viewed as potential terrorists. We are losing the public relations exercise.

At this juncture we need to communicate the moderate nature of the religion and the human face of Islam to the rest of the world. To do this, we need to draw attention to the fact that two-thirds of the Muslims live in the Asia and Pacific region and that three countries with the largest Muslim populations Indonesia, Pakistan and Bangladesh are in Asia.

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The EU and the UN have been taking regional initiatives to remove mistrust and foster understanding. However, they have been focussing only around the Mediterranean rim and the adjoining areas. A wider response is required and the UN and the OIC under the stewardship of its new Secretary General should make that their common objective. This strategy, according to Djibril Diallo of the United Nations could be based on the strong foundation of decades of UN cooperation with Muslim countries and those with large Muslim populations. This is a good focal point.

We need to understand and convey to the rest of the world the positive and moderate elements in the Holy Quran and in Islam. In this context I am reminded of some Ayats from the Holy Quran. Verse 171 of Sura Nisaa urges believers not to 'commit excess in your religion's as it might lead the person away from the very spirit of religion, which is peace and understanding. Similarly, Verse 71 of Sura Tauba suggests that 'men and women are protectors, one of another's and that 'believers enjoin what it just and forbid what is evil.' Throughout the Holy Quran, there are numerous references to the need of believers to help others and fulfil mutual obligations.

Similarly, the Charter of the OIC not only seeks rapprochement and solidarity between the Islamic people but also reaffirms the commitment towards fruitful cooperation amongst all people.

It is therefore clear that necessary foundation exists for the next step the important role of the United Nations and the OIC to project the correct image of Islam and Muslims. The effort will not be easy. The media, particularly the Western media, is greatly persuaded by agendas, facts and figures put together by sources who are not always friends of Muslim countries. This has already led to a war, in contravention of international law, fought one the basis of assumptions which have now fallen by the wayside.

We live today in difficult times. The problems that we face are enormous but so is the potential for improvement. I feel that we need to tread softly, but firmly.

The current international scenario is subject to multiple undercurrents, and in more ways then one, is far more complex and unpredictable than the bipolar world that framed Cold War realities. At the same time the international system is being seriously questioned as various countries are trying to find a rationale for the new doctrine that permits intervention through pre-emption. This in turn is raising questions about the relevance of institutional bodies like the United Nations and the OIC. Groupings like the Non-Aligned Bloc have also become less important.

The unfortunate part is that countries like the United States, UK and Australia tend to forget that might as expressed through arms does not necessarily solve all problems. In fact their efforts to curb terror and contain global terrorism is becoming more controversial. Somehow, agencies associated with this undertaking are also ending up typecasting whole groups of populations needlessly.

What is required is cooperation to fight global terrorism. It is here that the OIC and the UN can and should work together. They have to stand up to this menace jointly in various part of the world.

It has been explained recently by the Malaysian Prime Minister in Washington, in his capacity as Chairman of the OIC Summit, that OIC members agree that extremism and the evil of terrorism constitute a menace for the international community, it security and well-being. However, at the same time, it was also suitably explained that there has to be a recognition by the Western powers that the widening of power asymmetries, increasing world poverty, economic deprivation and suppression of freedom movements are giving rise to terrorism.

Palestine is a case in point. Iraq is held responsible for not implementing UN Security Council Resolutions and many other countries threatened with economic boycott for failing to abide by stringent UN resolutions. International law and UN Security Council Resolutions are however flouted continuously by Israel in the name of its security and nothing happens. A lot of wind would disappear from the sails of Palestinian freedom fighters (also called terrorist) if Israel left the occupied territories and permitted the Palestinians to form their own Independent State. The cause for terrorism in that part of the world would then be substantially reduced. Israel would not need an illegal wall. Their security could be assured through the presence of soldiers from Muslim countries under the UN flag on its borders. There are UN peace keepers from Muslim countries including Bangladesh keeping peace all over there world. This would be just another UN task which could jointly be performed by the UN and the OIC.

This would however require political will, and I am not sure that such an arrangement would be acceptable in Jerusalem or Washington.

A similar scenario could also take place on the border with Syria.

Love, peace, brotherhood and sanctity of life are integral to all religions and provide a foundation upon which we can build an edifice of dialogue among civilizations. Such a dialogue between religions and cultures is needed today to prevent religious fanaticism based on false promises. The UN and the OIC are philosophically, institutionally and politically well placed to lead the way to peace by engaging in a meaningful dialogue with all parties.

There is need for reflection, introspection and action both in the Islamic and in the non-Islamic world to bridge the prevailing misunderstandings. The UN can act as the catalyst for a positive change in this regard, particularly within the non-Arab Islamic world. Muslims in these countries feel targeted as part of the fight against terrorism. Their anxieties need to be reduced by affirmative action and pro-active role by the UN. This will also remove the perception that the UN is a tool of the Western countries and is only interested in their global agenda.

Both the OIC and the UN can also work together to find a viable balance without eroding established moral values. This is particularly important for the Muslim world which consists mostly of poor or developing nations which are suffering the consequences of the ever-widening inroads of material globalisation and its associated culture. An unfortunate spin-off of this scenario has been the growth of discontent and resentment that is sometimes being translated into desperate acts. Both the UN and the OIC need to address this together. This is necessary to avoid exploitation of such antipathy by individuals and groups who try to use such unhappiness to fuel terror and fundamentalist reaction.

Their efforts in this direction need to be supported by the developed countries.

Muhammad Zamir is a former Secretary and Ambassador.