The Blessed Month of Ramadan 1437 AH

The Blessed Month of Ramadan 1437 AH

Dr. Mozammel Haque

The start of the Holy month of Ramadan will be determined on the sighting of the moon later this week. The Supreme Judicial Council of Saudi Arabia called on all Muslims in the Kingdom to sight the crescent of the lunar month of Ramadan. Ramadan is likely to start on Monday after astronomers said the new moon could be sighted Sunday evening. The crescent visibility maps on ICOUK website shows that on Sunday 5th June 2016, the Ramadan 1437 AH moon will not be possible to be sighted in the UK or East of UK/Morocco by the naked eye. However, many people will be looking for the Ramadan moon on that date (29th Shaban) as per Sunnah and to confirm if the moon can or cannot be sighted by the human eye.

Ramadan Mubarak

Muslims all over the world still stick to the tradition of looking to the sky to start their fasting and ending. The fasting month of Ramadan starts with the sighting of the Ramadan crescent in the horizon with the naked eye. Under the Shari’ah, if the new crescent was seen by any trustworthy person supported by two witnesses his testimony would be documented and the whole nation would accept that testimony. Whatever be the case, the holy month of Ramadan is going to start either Monday or Tuesday depending on the sighting of the crescent. This column will come to the reader on Friday, the 3rd of June, 2016. So this is the best time to say my readers RAMADAN MUBARAK.

Ramadan Mubarak and Ramadan Greetings to all of you, especially to all the readers of Plain Truth and the Bangla Mirror Weekly: May this holy month bring barakah, and Allah's boundless mercy upon the believers and harmony and tolerance for the world.

I welcome Ramadan, the month of Mercy and Repentance, the month of the Qur’an, of Laylatul Qadr (the night of power) and of repentance and forgiveness. Fasting in the month of Ramadan is one of the Pillars of the Islamic faith. It was declared an obligatory duty (Fard) in the second year of the Hijrah upon each and every mukallaf (one capable of carrying out religious duties, i.e. a sane adult).

Blessed Month of Ramadan

Allah the Almighty made Ramadan fasting compulsory for Muslims. Allah said, “O those who believe, the fasts have been enjoined upon you as were enjoined upon those before so that you be God-fearing.’ [Surah Baqarah, 183]. Literally, Sawm means ‘to abstain’. In the terminology of Islamic law, Sawm means ‘to abstain from eating, drinking and sexual intercourse: with the conditions that one abstains continuously from dawn to sunset, and that there is an intention to fast.’ Therefore, should one eat or drink anything even a minute before sunset, the fast will not be valid. Similarly, if one abstained from all these things throughout the day but made no intention to fast, there will be no fast here too.

Allah the Almighty said in the Qur’an “…And eat and drink, until the white thread of dawn appears to you distinct from its black thread…” (Al-Qur’an, 2:187) Literally defined, fasting means to abstain “completely” from foods, drinks, intimate intercourse and smoking, before the break of the dawn till sunset, during the entire month of Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic year.

Fasting in Islam is based on the lunar calendar and is tied to the sightings of hilal, the crescent, or new moon. Allah the Almighty stated: “They ask you concerning the new moons. Say: They are but signs to mark fixed periods of time… (Al-Qur’an, 2:189). And the Traditions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Eat until you see the crescent and break not until you see the crescent. If it is cloudy calculate the period of the month.” (Muslim and others).

Fasting in Ramadan is compulsory upon every Muslim, male or female, who has these qualifications, e.g. mentally and physically fit, adult full of age which is normally fourteen and fairly certain that fasting is unlikely to cause any harm, physical or mental, other than the normal reactions to hunger, thirst etc.

The said qualifications exclude the following categories: children under the age of puberty and discretion; men and women who are too old and feeble to undertake the obligation of fast and bear its hardships; sick people whose health is likely to be severely affected by the observance of fast; travellers may break the fast temporarily during their travel;  pregnant women and women breast-feeding their children may also break their fast and women in the period of menstruation (of a maximum of ten days or of confinement (of a maximum of forty days. They must postpone the fast till recovery and then make up for it.

The holy month of Ramadan is the month of mercy, forgiveness, and seeking release from the Hell-fire. It is the month of repentance and acceptance of prayers. It is the month when the devils are chained, the gates of Hell are looked and the gates of Paradise are opened.  That’s why; Muslims welcome Ramadan each year with energy and happiness, and are saddened only when the month departs. Fasting is for the living, not for mourning.

Ramadan is a month of worship. Muslims should welcome the month with repentance and seeking Allah’s pardon. We should keep away from committing sins; worship Allah sincerely and spending the night and day in prayer, supplication and recitation of the Holy Qur’an.

Fasting is a shield which helps prevent many sins and with which Muslim protects himself from Hell-fire. Fasting is more than abstaining from food and drink. It also means to abstain from any falsehood in speech and action, from any ignorant and indecent speech, and from arguing and quarrelling. Therefore, fasting helps to develop good behaviour.

Fasting inculcates a sense of brotherhood and solidarity, as a Muslim feels and experiences what his needy and hungry brothers feel. This gives Muslim a new sense of togetherness and association.

Allah the Almighty said in the Qur’an: The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for mankind, and clear proofs of the guidance, and the criterion (between right and wrong). (Surah Al-Baqarah 2: 185) As Ramadan is the month of the Qur’an, every Muslim should prepare himself to welcome the blessed month of Ramadan by strengthening his relationship with the Qur’an. A Muslim is encouraged to complete one recitation of the Holy Qur’an during Ramadan.

We should engage more and more in the recitation of the Qur’an, in dhikr (remembrance of Allah), perform extra Salah (ritual prayers) at night and renew identity with one another in our obedience to Allah.

Ramadan is called the month of charity and sympathy; a month of giving in charity and sharing meals to break the fast together. Many Muslims also pay Zakah in the month of Ramadan.

Ramadan is an excellent opportunity to bring about permanent improvement into our lives. We can do this by making a goal to remove a harmful trait from our character or speech, whether it be argumentation, backbiting, making false promises, or resentment against a fellow Muslim, or a sinful matter from our lives. Insha’Allah by the baraka of this month, this effort will result in change that will benefit us in this world and the next.

I would again like to take this opportunity to wish all of you a blessed Ramadan. May this blessed month bring unadulterated peace to everyone in the world. May Allah make this Ramadan a month of increasing nearness to Him, and May He accept all of our fasts and worship. Ameen.

Thus Ramadan becomes a blessed month of physical, moral and spiritual renewal through fasting, charity and worship. This is the moral and spiritual gifts of Ramadan. “We can say that Ramadan gives us the great gift of Taqwa (Piety). Taqwa is the sum total of Islamic life. It is the highest of all virtues in the Islamic scheme of things. It means God-consciousness, piety, fear and awe of Allah and it signifies submission to Allah and total commitment to all that is good and rejection of all that is evil and bad,” said Dr. Muzzammil H. Siddiqi, former President of Islamic Society of North America (ISNA).

Elaborate preparations are in place to

Serve Pilgrims during Ramadan

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has completed all preparations for the influx of millions of pilgrims into the country during Ramadan, the Saudi Council of Ministers announced Monday, the 30^th of May, 2016. At a meeting chaired by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on Monday, the King was reassured that the country was ready to offer a safe and secure visit for pilgrims, according to a statement issued by Culture and Information Minister Adel Al-Toraifi to SPA. Al-Toraifi said the Cabinet thanked King Salman for overseeing the expansion and development of the two holy mosques and holy sites, in conjunction with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif, chairman of the Supreme Hajj Committee; and for his patronage through the crown prince of the 16th Scholarly Forum on Hajj and Umrah organized by Umm Al-Qura University.

Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Naif, Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has approved a contingency plan prepared by Civil Defence to deal with any emergency in Makkah and Madinah during Ramadan, said a top official. Lt. Gen. Sulaiman Bin Abdullah Al-Amr, Director General of the Civil Defence, said preventive measures will also be taken to ward off any threats to the safety of pilgrims, visitors and others in the holy cities. “The Crown Prince has made it clear that the safety of pilgrims in Makkah and Madinah is paramount.

“The Crown Prince ordered the Civil Defence to take all precautions necessary to ensure the safety of pilgrims. Pilgrims come from all over the world to perform a religious duty, therefore they should feel safe and secure and focus on their spirituality,” said Al-Amr.

The Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques is geared up with unprecedented arrangements to receive hundreds of thousands of Umrah pilgrims and worshippers during the holy month of Ramadan. Sheikh Abdurahman Al-Sudais, head of the Presidency, said that all preparations and arrangements are well in place to offer the best services to pilgrims and visitors.

“Under the guidance of the rulers, the Presidency, in coordination with all the concerned government departments and security agencies, has mobilized all its personnel and resources to cope with the huge influx of the faithful at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. Our nation shoulders the great responsibility of serving those visiting the Two Holy Mosques by enabling them to perform their rituals in ease and comfort,” said Al-Sudais.

He also thanked the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman for his directive at Monday’s Cabinet session to make the best possible preparations in serving the pilgrims during Ramadan.

Sheikh Muhammad Al-Khuzaim, deputy head of the Presidency, “The Presidency has made available all kinds of services and facilities for the worshippers, and these included appointing scholars to offer Islamic lectures and guidance classes, distribution of Islamic books and leaflets, organizing iftar meals, making available golf carts for carrying elderly and disabled worshippers etc.

It is learnt that some 210 doors have been opened in the Grand Mosque in Makkah for the entry and exit of pilgrims, visitors and worshippers during Ramadan, according to director of the department of doors in the Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques Muhammad Bati. He told Makkah Arabic daily on Tuesday that about 600 employees, wearing official uniforms and carrying IDs, will be guarding the doors. Bati urged all pilgrims and visitors to cooperate with the guards to ensure smooth entry and exit.

Mr. Muhammad Bati also said the special needs people can enter Haram through a number of doors including Al-Salam, Al-Marwa, Quraish, Al-Abbas, King Fahd and Abdullah gates in addition to the doors No. 64, 68, 69, 74, 84, 89, 90, 93 and 94. He said there are lifts and escalators for special needs people.

drmhaque@yahoo.co.uk

1^st June 2016

Sadiq Khan - The First Muslim Mayor of London

Sadiq Khan:

The First Muslim Mayor of London

Dr. Mozammel Haque

British Labour Party’s Sadiq Khan becomes the first Muslim Mayor of London after defeating his Conservative opponent Zac Goldsmith on 5^th of May, 2016. Khan has made history by being elected first Muslim Mayor of London. Khan gained 1.3 million votes more than his two predecessors when you take into accounts the first and second preferences. People are saying that the voters gave biggest personal mandate in the electoral history. Khan’s 13.6% margin of victory over Goldsmith is the widest in 16 years. Conservative candidate Goldsmith came second in London’s mayoral race. Khan’s win ends the eight years of Conservative control of London. Khan’s victory not just the voters’ rejection of Conservative negative campaign, but giving their endorsement to Khan’s policy and programme of housing, transport and policing.

It means Britain has its first directly-elected Muslim Mayor. It is an invaluable antidote to identity politics. It shows that the world’s most multi-cultural city has found someone who can reflect the way it self-identities. Let us start from the beginning: the mayoral contestants, their background, their campaign and the results of the mayoral race before going into new Mayor’s swearing-in ceremony; his speech and other issues like response to Donald Trump and lastly, the responses of the British people, including the Muslims and that of the press.

Mayoral Contestants

Sadiq Khan, 45, is a son of a Pakistan immigrant – grown up in council estate. He is former human rights lawyer and former Transport Minister under Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Labour government in 2009.

On the other hand, Zac Goldsmith, is Conservative Party member, multi-millionaire who inherited most of his wealth from his father who was a businessman. Goldsmith attended Eton College which educated 19 British Prime Ministers. He is tall, handsome and rich with Christian and Jewish roots.

Negative and divisive campaign

Goldsmith is accused of running negative campaigns against Khan. Goldsmith and his Party accused of racist and Islamophobic campaign against Khan. Goldsmith’s mayoral campaign linked Sadiq Khan to ‘Muslim extremists’. During the campaign, the Tories tried to paint Khan as a radical, suggesting he had questions to answer because he had shared platforms with extremists in the past and defended them in his time as a human rights lawyer. Critics have accused Goldsmith of attacking Khan for his Muslim faith.

The Defence Secretary, Michael Fallon, who described Khan during the mayoral election campaign as a “Labour lackey who speaks alongside extremists”, repeatedly refused to say whether he was worried about Khan’s election and the safety of Londoners during an interview on Radio 4’s Today programme.

Evening Standard, an increasingly farcical Tory mouthpiece which insulted the people of London by claiming: “This paper has done its best to be even-handed over the course of this campaign.”

The decency of Tories like Peter Oborne – who called the campaign “repulsive” – and former Tory candidate Shazia Awan – who called it “racist” – shone through. But they were a small minority. Now senior Tories are condemning the campaign as “poisonous” and as “outrageous”. Too late. The damage is done. And by condemning any alleged anti-Semitism on the left, and staying silent about anti-Muslim prejudice on the right, they reveal they have no interest in fighting racism. For the Tories, racism is a convenience: a hammer to batter their opponents with, or to exploit for political advantage.

Khan tackled his campaign with a focus and detail that left the Tories’ Zac Goldsmith looking ineffectual and ill-defined. Goldsmith’s team ran a repellent and now much criticised operation that, especially as victory slipped from their grasp, descended into a dirty slur and innuendo offensive against Khan as a Muslim and his past as a human rights lawyer. The ground operation was relentlessly amplified by the prime minister in the Commons, even on the eve of polling.

Election Results

Mr Sadiq Khan, the Tooting MP secured 57% of votes in the Mayoral contest once second preferences were taken into account. He beat Conservative rival Zac Goldsmith by a total of 315,529 votes when the second preference votes were counted and reallocated. He received a total of 1,310,143 votes, higher than for any previous London Mayor. This amounted to 57 per cent of the total final votes to Mr Goldsmith's 43 per cent (994,614 votes). The capital had its largest ever turnout at 45.6 per cent, up from 38 per cent in 2012. Mr Khan's victory ends eight years of Conservative leadership at City Hall, under Boris Johnson.

Most striking victory

The victory of Sadiq Khan, the new Mayor of London is a triumph for a tolerant, open and diverse London. Mr. Khan’s victory was a triumph not just for the values of tolerance and openness but for social justice, as he stood, more emphatically than his opponent, for spreading the benefits of London’s prosperity to all its citizens. His victory is most striking because his is still the most powerful directly-elected office in the country and his victory is most striking because it is for the symbolism of electing the Muslim son of an immigrant bus driver that Mr Khan’s victory is most striking. 

First most powerful politician in Europe

Khan is the first in so many respects. He is the most powerful Muslim politician in Europe, has taken charge of £17bn budget, with responsibility for transport, housing, planning and the police and fire services. He is the first person from an ethnic minority to hold the post. This result gives a powerful message for the London’s 44% BAME population - no matter your race, religion or class; you too could become the most powerful directly-elected politician in the country.

London is now the first major Western city to elect a Muslim Mayor. Mr. Khan is the most powerful directly-elected politician in Europe, the third biggest personal mandate in the EU, after the presidencies of France and Portugal. Chris Murray wrote, “Sadiq Khan is now in charge of Europe’s biggest city, a global metropolis home to people from all over the world.”

BOX

Sadiq Aman Khan previously served as Member of Parliament for Tooting since 2005. 

Born: October 8, 1970 (age 45), Tooting, London

Spouse: Saadiya Khan (m. 1994)

Office: Mayor of London since 2016

Books: Fairness Not Favours: How to Reconnect with British Muslims

Education: University of Law (1993), University of North London (1992)

Children: Anisah Khan, Ammarah Khan

London’s First Muslim Mayor

Swearing-in ceremony

Sadiq Khan is the first Muslim to hold the post of Mayor in the European capital city. He won against his Conservative rival Goldsmith who used sinister smear campaign against him linking Khan with the Islamic extremists. Khan defeated his opponent who was accused of the divisive, nasty and negative campaign who linked Khan with the Islamist extremists.

After thumping victory over Zac Goldsmith, Khan commanded largest personal votes in British politics. London’s first Muslim mayor Sadiq Khan chose deliberately and very consciously Southwark Cathedral venue for his swearing-in ceremony; to show the feeling of unity and demonstrate solidarity with the diverse Londoners. “Yesterday, in a multi-faith ceremony at Southwark Cathedral, Sadiq Khan was sworn in as the Labour mayor of London, the first Muslim to hold such office in a major European capital. It is an important moment,” wrote The Sunday Times in its editorial comment. (Corbyn can’t win but Sadiq Khan can do better, The Sunday Times, 8 May, 2016)

Writing about the victory of Sadiq Khan in the mayoral election, Bagehot wrote in the Economist, “Eventually, every senior politician in Britain is invited to Buckingham Palace to join the Privy Council, the body that notionally advises the queen. In 2009 Sadiq Khan, then transport minister, was asked on which version of the Bible he wanted to swear his oath. He replied that, as a Muslim, he would like to use a Koran. Buckingham Palace had none, so he brought his own. Afterwards, when the palace tried to return it, he asked: “Can I leave it here for the next person?”” (Economist, 14 May, 2016)

Sadiq Khan’s first speech

as Mayor of London

It is not only important but most significant and historic to document the first speech of a Muslim Mayor of the great City of London. His message to the Londoners is clear: “I am determined to live the most transparent, engage and accessible administration London has ever seen. I represent every single community and every single part of our city as Mayor of London.”

He said, “Son of a bus driver from a council estate child of an immigrant is now the Mayor of this great City of London.”

Mr. Khan, as Mayor of London said, “Labour has won control of City Hall in London for the first time in eight years – the first major electoral success for our party in England in over a decade.”

“I am deeply humbled by the hope and trust that Londoners have placed in me. I grew up on a council estate just a few miles from City Hall and I never imagined that Londoners would one day elect someone like me to lead our great capital city,” he said.

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Mr. Khan said, “My promise now is to govern in the interests of all Londoners as a strong, pragmatic and independent-minded leader of our city. In planning my programme for the next four years, I have one burning ambition for London that will guide every decision I make – ensuring that all Londoners can have the same opportunities to get on in life that London gave me. Everyone – regardless of their background, wealth, race, faith, gender, sexual orientation or age – should be able to fulfil their potential and succeed.”

“Throughout my campaign, we focused on the issues that Londoners care about most – the lack of affordable housing, transport infrastructure and fares, the NHS, the need for real neighbourhood policing and pro-business policies. It might seem like stating the obvious, but offering solutions to the challenges most people face every day is the only way to win elections. How can you expect to enthuse an undecided voter, or persuade a previous Tory voter, if you can’t gain their trust on the key issues, or you don’t want to talk about what they care about most?” he said.

Mayor of London, Mr. Khan mentioned, “In London from the start we had a 32-borough strategy: I spent as much time in Bromley, Richmond and the City as I did in Hackney, Southwark or Camden. My slogan was “A Mayor for all Londoners”. It should never be about “picking sides”, a “them or us” attitude, or a having a political strategy to target just enough of the population to get over the line. Our aim should be to unite people from all backgrounds as a broad and welcoming tent – not to divide and rule.”

“It’s also why the Conservative mayoral campaign was so disappointing. I was looking forward to a good honest campaign, debating how we best tackle things like the housing crisis, high transport fares and air pollution. But David Cameron and Zac Goldsmith chose to set out to divide London’s communities in an attempt to win votes in some areas and suppress voters in other parts of the city. They used fear and innuendo to try to turn different ethnic and religious groups against each other – something straight out of the Donald Trump playbook. Londoners deserved better and I hope it’s something the Conservative party will never try to repeat,” Mr. Khan mentioned.

Speaking about his future programme, Mr. Khan said, “Over the next four years, I will work tirelessly to bring communities together and deliver my Labour manifesto for all Londoners. Over the same period, it’s crucial for the whole country that the Labour party becomes a credible government-in-waiting.”

Politics of Divisive negative campaign

Khan mentioned about the election campaign by the Conservative party. It is interesting to bring out reaction and responses some of the Tory party members who were disgusted by the way election campaign was conducted by the Conservatives. Critics, including Conservatives, said that Goldsmith damaged the party’s reputation on race and religion.

Mr Goldsmith’s sister, Jemima Khan

His own sister, Jemima Khan, the journalist and campaigner, took to twitter as the result became clear on Friday night, to criticise her brother’s campaign and claim it “did not reflect who I know him to be”. She wrote: “Sad that Zac’s campaign did not reflect who I know him to be – an eco-friendly, independent-minded politician with integrity.” Ms Goldsmith was previously married to the Pakistani politician Imran Khan. She converted to Islam before the marriage, from which she has two children.

Mr. Amin, Conservative Muslim Forum

In his article, Mohammed Amin, chairman of the Conservative Muslim Forum, said that even as a Conservative member of over 30 years, he was so “disgusted with the tone” of the Goldsmith campaign and his "repeated, and risible, attempts to smear Sadiq Khan” meant that he stopped canvassing for the Tory candidate after January 2016. “We were meant to understand that Khan kept bad company with extremist Muslims and could not be trusted with the safety of London,” Mr Amin wrote.

“On top of that, leaflets were targeted specifically at London Hindus and Sikhs, superficially about Khan’s tax policies, but clearly seeking to divide Londoners along religious and ethnic lines.”

The work done by David Cameron to “detoxify” the brand of the Conservative party had also been “imperilled” by the Goldsmith campaign, Mr Amin wrote.

Ken Clarke

Former Chancellor Ken Clarke suggested that either the media or “some misguided advisor” bore responsibility. “I don’t know how far Zac ran it,” Mr Clarke told BBC Radio 4’s Any Questions. “But the likelihood was every Muslim in London would be turned out to vote for the other side and a lot of metropolitan people in London who have perfectly civilised; one-nation Tory views thought this was rather startling.”

Baroness Warsi

Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, wrote in her twitter: “Our appalling dog whistle campaign for LondonMayor2016 lost us the election, our reputation & credibility on issues of race and religion.”

In contrast to Goldsmith, Khan’s campaign was positive and inclusive, based around his promise to be a mayor “for all Londoners”. Khan may not be the type of politician to engender warm, fuzzy feelings in the electorate – his triumph is not Obama in 2008 – but his calm and grace in the face of Goldsmith’s attacks have been truly admirable.

Comments on Election Result

Commenting on the mayoral election results, Mr. Chris Murray wrote, “London is now the first major Western city to elect a Muslim mayor. At a time when the role of Muslims in Europe is contested, the third biggest personal mandate in the EU, after the presidencies of France and Portugal, is now held by the Muslim son of immigrants. This is no small step. But after such a divisive campaign, there is no room for complacency.”

“Sadiq Khan is now in charge of Europe’s biggest city, a global metropolis home to people from all over the world. Fostering cohesion and making immigration work will be a key part of his new job. Making more Londoners citizens would be a good place to start,” Mr. Murray observed.

Marina Hyde wrote in The Guardian, “Peter Oborne classed the Conservative mayoral strategy as bearing comparison with the nakedly homophobic push against Peter Tatchell in Bermondsey in 1983, and the notoriously foul 1964 Smethwick campaign in which the Tory slogan was “If you want a n***** for a neighbour vote Labour.” As Andrew Boff, leader of the London Assembly’s Tory group, remarked tartly of the Goldsmith campaign’s tactics after the polls had closed: “I don’t think it was a dog-whistle because you can’t hear a dog-whistle.””

Newspapers’ Editorial

London’s daily newspapers carried out special editorial on this occasion. The daily Independent editorially wrote: “this time Zac Goldsmith tried to make a coded connection between “Muslim” and “terrorist” and the voters of London told him to get lost.  Mr Khan, on the other hand, ran a good, confident campaign and deserved to prevail. His victory was a triumph not just for the values of tolerance and openness but for social justice, as he stood, more emphatically than his opponent, for spreading the benefits of London’s prosperity to all its citizens.” (Editorial, Independent, 7 May, 2016)

Writing editorially, The Guardian observed, “A diverse electorate has not been subject to subliminal dog whistles, but rather screaming wolf whistles – including newspaper articles about Labour’s Muslim candidate illustrated by the exploded bus on 7/7, and shameful prime ministerial denunciations of past associates who shared Mr Khan’s faith, but not his politics. The capital, though, has turned away from the politics of divisive reaction, and instead made its decision on the basis of who it trusts to tackle this grotesquely unequal city’s grave and gritty problems, most particularly with housing. But in the process, by electing a Muslim to one of the highest-profile political offices in Europe, London has unwittingly drawn the eyes of the world to the incoming administration.” ( Editorial, The Guardian, 6 May, 2016)

Bagehot wrote in Economist, “London’s election was strikingly normal. The capital is a conventional Labour city and Mr Khan a conventional Labour politician. His win was merely the natural order of things. Mr Goldsmith’s hints about his rival’s links with reactionary Muslims—which in defter hands might have raised valid questions about Mr Khan’s willingness to flex his principles to suit his electorate—looked crass and crazed. They had little effect. More interested in Mr Khan’s pledge to let them change buses without paying extra fares, Londoners rolled their eyes, voted Labour and inadvertently made history. To veterans of the capital’s politics the most interesting thing was not the election of a Muslim but the signs that Mr Khan did better than Labour usually does among white suburbanites and that Mr Goldsmith (despite his best efforts) benefited from the ongoing structural rise in the non-white Tory vote.” (Bagehot, Economist, 14 May, 2016)

Those papers not only celebrated the outcome of the election result, but they also advised the new Mayor of London about his responsibilities and duties. The Independent editorially observed, “Much also depends on how Mr Khan performs in office. In France and the US, city, regional or state government is an accepted route to the highest office. If you've been a fine Mayor of Paris or effective Governor of Texas or Arkansas you can rightly aspire to national leadership. So for his sake and that of his party, and indeed his city, Mr Khan might be well advised to just get on with the job. If he achieves things, his time will come.” (Editorial, Independent, 8 May, 2016)

Similarly, The Observer observed editorially, “In London, Sadiq Khan is to be congratulated for his historic win: London’s first Muslim mayor has Britain’s largest-ever popular mandate. His victory confirms London as a Labour city, confident enough in its diversity to rebuke the divisive, sectarian campaign run by Zac Goldsmith. Khan has cemented his reputation as a formidable campaigner: he now needs to prove himself as a mayor who can deliver on London’s housing crisis and its overcrowded transport system.” (Editorial, The Observer, 8 May 2016)

Similarly, Bagehot observed in Economist, “As mayor, Mr Khan has a unique platform, not confined to the city or even Britain, that he should use to promote a pluralistic sort of nationhood, ease tensions between ethnic and religious groups and highlight failures and successes of integration. Donald Trump will probably lose to Hillary Clinton. But his final defeat, in Britain at least, will come when Mr Khan’s copy of the Koran in Buckingham Palace is well-thumbed—and no one cares.” (Bagehot, Economist, 14 May, 2016)

The Sunday Times in its editorial comment wrote: “Mr. Khan, having won a decisive victory which he described as one “for hope over fear and for unity over division”, now has to demonstrate that he is the right man for the job. That means assembling a strong team and it means working with this government.”

“Mr. Khan also needs to demonstrate more clearly than he has done so far who he is and what he stands for,” wrote editorially. (Editorial Comment, The Sunday Times, 8 May 2016.)

On the issue of Donald Trump’s

entry ban of Muslims to US

As Sadiq Khan became the Mayor of London, immediately the question came about Donald Trump’s entry ban of Muslims to US. Bagehot wrote in Economist: “Mr Trump announced on May 10th that Mr Khan would be exempt from his putative entry ban on non-American Muslims, which he then called “just a suggestion”. London’s mayor rejected the exemption: “This isn’t just about me. It’s about my friends, my family and everyone who comes from a background similar to mine, anywhere in the world.” Within days he had used the guff about “Londonistan” and “Eurabia” to become a global symbol of tolerance and religious pluralism. (Economist, 14 May, 2016)

British Muslims’ Response

It is quite natural to enquire about the response of the British Muslims on the success of Sadiq Khan to be the newly elected Muslim Mayor of London City. There is a mixed reaction and response. Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) the UK’s largest Umbrella body of Muslim organisations congratulated Sadiq Khan in its press release on 6 May, 2016 (embargo till 10pm). The daily Guardian has also carried out an interview with the British Muslims. (‘What Sadiq Khan's election means to British Muslims,’ The Guardian, 7 May, 2016). Followings are some excerpts of the response:

a) Muslim Council of Britain (MCB)

congratulates Mayor Sadiq Khan

Followings are the press release of the Muslim Council of Britain issued on 6 May, 2016 (embargo till 10pm)

Muslim Council of Britain Congratulates New London Mayor Sadiq Khan

The Muslim Council of Britain today (6 May 2016) congratulated Sadiq Khan as the new Mayor of London. Dr Shuja Shafi, its Secretary General said:

“I congratulate Sadiq Khan for his victory. His ready wit and resilience is an inspiring model for young people particularly from minority backgrounds aiming for a career in the tough world of politics.”

“London is a great cosmopolitan city much loved and admired for its multicultural and multifaith diversity. The election of a Muslim-heritage mayor will serve to renew bonds of cooperation between London’s communities and City Hall. This includes establishing a more constructive relationship with the Police so that we can keep our communities safe and secure. It also means working together to tackle social deprivation, developing further our cultural capital and making our sprawling metropolis greener.”

“Above all, we look forward to the new Mayor of London becoming a figure of unity for all Londoners and help to forge fresh new bonds between communities. Sadiq has demonstrated remarkable dignity in the face of hatred and suspicion about his religious background. Muslims and non-Muslims, including prominent Conservatives, have rightly spoken out against the divisive campaign pursued by the Conservative Party. This is not a party political comment. We know that many Muslims would have voted for Mr Khan’s chief opponent, Mr Zac Goldsmith who know him to be a decent and honourable man who used to actively engage with the Muslim community.”

“It is most unfortunate that a Londoner who happens to be Muslim, and has gone out of his way to repudiate extremists, has nevertheless been smeared with the extremist brush, as has a London imam who is – unjustly – unable to challenge claims made in Parliament that he supports Daesh or terrorism. Such smear-by-association has become all too common for Muslims and Muslim organisations. It is a cancer blighting sections of our political and media class and has infected the solemn business of government.”

“For the real extremists we are all opposed to, such tactics will only provide fresh new examples of a society not willing to accept Muslims for who they are. We urge the Conservative Party to reflect and learn from this disreputable period of campaigning so that we can all draw a line and move on.”

That was the response of the UK’s largest umbrella body of Muslim associations and organisations, Muslim Council of British Muslim (MCB). As I said earlier, daily newspapers The Guardian has conducted survey of British Muslims’ response. (Guardian, 7 May, 2016). Followings are the excerpts of British Muslims’ response and reaction.

b) What Sadiq Khan's election means to British Muslims

Navid Akhtar, 48, London:

“I am hoping that Khan’s appointment will be positive for the Muslim community and we will see this as a chance to reach out to our neighbours, who are curious about our faith and open to finding out about our everyday life as Muslims. Within wider society I hope his position will reaffirm that Muslims are no different to anyone else in terms of their wish for peace, mutual respect and prosperity.”

Sajadah Tariq, 45, Nottingham:

Khan won because of his policies, not because he is Muslim

“Islam should never have been on the agenda in this campaign, as Zac Goldsmith’s faith was never mentioned. Faith should not matter, diversity is essential. We should focus on politics and Khan won because of his policies, not his faith. I hope during his time as mayor Khan lives up to his word on housing, and transport. I hope he unites London. This should be his legacy, not the fact that he is Muslim – that is insignificant.”

Ali Jaffery, 58, Cardiff:

I hope that Khan will improve race relations

“To me the first Muslim mayor means that in mature democracies there is no room for identifying a human on grounds of faith, race or ethnicity. I hope that Khan will improve race relations, and keep London moving by cutting down transport fares, as well as help tackle the housing crisis. I would like Khan to approach British Muslims with positive thinking and formulate a policy to educate the police authorities, teaching them not to consider all Muslims as terrorists by default.”

Dawood Gustave, 49, London: I want him to be a mayor for all Londoners

“London and its pluralism means it is a beacon of hope for the world. I voted for Khan; I am the son of immigrants and from a council estate myself. Self-made and with compassion, he represents a view of modern caring capitalism that London can represent if we can address our inequality problem. I hope the mayor will achieve what he said he would, and provide hope and unity. I want him to be a mayor for all Londoners.”

Zainab Kidwai, 32, Derby:

Khan’s attitude throughout his campaign has been phenomenal

“It’s a very proud moment for Muslims in the UK and the world. It shows that there is still trust among world citizens in Islam and Muslims. That “we” are as normal as anyone else. Khan’s attitude throughout his campaign has been phenomenal – he never gave up and kept pursuing his dream. I hope he is able to do a fantastic job for London and its citizens by continuing to make it into a leading world-class city where everyone and anyone feels welcome.”

Suhaib Qazi, 31, London:

I don’t think he fully represents Muslim feeling in the city

“From a purely Muslim perspective, I would like to see him tackle the rising level of Islamophobia that we have seen in recent times, particularly on public transport where mainly women have been targeted. There is a huge sense of fear among Muslim women now, particularly those wearing hijab/niqab and so it needs to be addressed.
Sadiq Khan's London win is an exciting departure for British politics.”

OIC Istanbul Summit 2016

13^th OIC Summit in Istanbul Turkey:

Unity and Solidarity for Justice and Peace

Dr. Mozammel Haque

Introduction

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan hosted more than 30 heads of state and government as well as top officials from 57-member countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for the two-day Summit in Istanbul, Turkey from 14-15 April, 2016. The theme of the Conference was “Unity and Solidarity for Justice and Peace.” The 13^th Islamic Summit aimed at overcoming differences in the Muslim world.

Prominent guests at the meeting included Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.

The two-day summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation OIC) got underway on Thursday, 14 April 2016 with a speech by Erdogan from the Summit venue in Istanbul, the former capital of the Ottoman Empire from where the Ottoman sultans for centuries ruled Muslims from the Balkans to Arabia.

Turkey has said it wants to use the meeting to narrow differences between the world's estimated 1.7 billion Muslims. However, the gathering risks being overshadowed by disputes on issues ranging from Syria to Yemen.

While the summit marks one of the most significant gatherings of heads of state for years in Istanbul, some prominent leaders such as Jordan's King Abdullah and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi was notable by their absence.

[Acknowledgement] This write-up is prepared from the sources: OIC website, press agencies, Saudi Gazette, Arab News and Al-Jazeera English website.

Background information of the OIC

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) (formerly Organization of the Islamic Conference) is the second largest inter-governmental organization after the United Nations which has membership of 57 states spread over four continents. The Organization is the collective voice of the Muslim world and ensuring to safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony among various people of the world. The Organization was established upon a decision of the historical summit which took place in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco on 12th Rajab 1389 Hijra (25 September 1969) as a result of criminal arson of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem.

In 1970 the first ever meeting of Islamic Conference of Foreign Minister (ICFM) was held in Jeddah which decided to establish a permanent secretariat in Jeddah headed by the organization’s secretary general. Mr. Iyad Ameen Madani is the 10th Secretary General who assumed the office in January 2014.

BOX

Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

(Formerly Organisation of the Islamic Conference)

Founded on 25 September 1969 &

Holds international Summit every three year

Member – 57 Islamic Countries

Representing 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide

Head Quarter – Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Present Secretary General – Mr. Iyad Madani

OIC protecting and defending true image of Islam

OIC promoting trade & economic ties between member countries

OIC calls itself collective voice of Muslim world

Israeli-Palestine conflict is high on the agenda at this OIC Summit

OIC Summit is meant to address rising threats of Islamophobia & Sectarianism

The present Charter of the Organization was adopted by the Eleventh Islamic Summit held in Dakar on 13-14 March 2008 which laid down the objectives and principles of the organization and fundamental purposes to strengthen the solidarity and cooperation among the Member States. Over the last 40 years, the membership has grown from its founding members of 25 to 57 states. The Organization has the singular honour to galvanize the Ummah into a unified body and have actively represented the Muslims by espousing all causes close to the hearts of over 1.5 billion Muslims of the world. The Organization has consultative and cooperative relations with the UN and other inter-governmental organizations to protect the vital interests of the Muslims and to work for the settlement of conflicts and disputes involving Member States. In safeguarding the true values of Islam and the Muslims, the organization has taken various steps to remove misperceptions and have strongly advocated elimination of discrimination against the Muslims in all forms and manifestations.

The Member States of the OIC face many challenges in the 21st century and to address those challenges, the third extraordinary session of the Islamic Summit held in Makkah in December 2005, laid down the blue print called the Ten-Year Program of Action which envisages joint action of Member States, promotion of tolerance and moderation, modernization, extensive reforms in all spheres of activities including science and technology, education, trade enhancement, and emphasizes good governance and promotion of human rights in the Muslim world, especially with regard to rights of children, women and elderly and the family values enshrined by Islam.

On the back drops of the Summit

This Summit took place in Istanbul in the back drops of ISIL, Daesh terrorism, Syrian conflict sending hundreds of thousands of refugees to the unwelcoming European borders.  Turkish Foreign Minister, Mevlut Cavusoglu, said the summit was being held at a time when "the Islamic world is experiencing many disputes within itself.

"Fratricidal conflict causes great pain. Sectarianism divides the Ummah," he told OIC foreign ministers on Tuesday, using the Arabic world for the Muslim community. Still he was optimistic and said, "Hopefully, this summit will pave the way for healing some wounds."

Issues discussed

The issues included the question of Palestine and the Arab-Israeli conflict, conflict situations in the Muslim world and migration, situation of Muslim communities in non-OIC member states, combating terrorism and violent extremism, Islamophobia, and the humanitarian situation in the Muslim world.

Twelve issues were tabled for discussion by leaders of the Muslim world at the meeting started Thursday (14 April 2016). There was also discussion on the OIC Program of Action: 2016-2025, advancing scientific cooperation among member states in the areas of health, higher education and environment, advancing cultural, social and information cooperation in the Muslim world, poverty eradication and development of infrastructure in the OIC member states, legal and statutory issues, and empowering OIC to deliver on its mandate.

Opening Speech of Turkish President

Recep Tayyip Erdogan

Fight Sectarianism

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday, the 14^th of April, 2016 urged Muslim leaders gathered for the OIC summit to end sectarian divisions in the Islamic world and join forces to fight terror. “I believe the greatest challenge we need to surmount is sectarianism. My religion is not that of Sunnis, of Shiites. My religion is Islam,” Erdogan said in his opening speech.

“We should be uniting. Out of the conflicts, the tyranny, only the Muslims suffer,” he said, adding the summit meeting could be a “turning point” for the whole Islamic world.

Re-structuring of the UN Security Council

He also called for the re-structuring of the UN Security Council, so that the Muslim world has an effective voice. Erdogan lashed out at Daesh and Boko Haram extremists in Nigeria as two “terrorist organizations that are serving the same evil purpose.”

Multinational Police Coordination centre

He said that the OIC had accepted a Turkish proposal to set up a Multinational Police Coordination Centre for Islamic states to fight militants, to be based in Istanbul. “We need to establish an organization to further strengthen cooperation in the fight against terror,” he said.

Unify the Muslim world

Several leaders have expressed their commitment to unify the Muslim world in the face of severe political, economic and social challenges.

Palestinian question,

In his speech, read out by Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Soukry, President Abdul Fattah El-Sisi said that as the chair of the previous summit, Egypt had done everything it could to advance the cause of Muslims across the globe. This would continue under Turkey, as the new chair, particularly with regard to action on the Palestinian question, which should be resolved with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. He commended the OIC for holding a summit on Palestine in Indonesia in March.

Erdogan agreed with El-Sisi’s call for action on Palestine, and also endorsed the call for unity among Muslim nations to tackle the problems of vulnerable communities. He said Turkey was doing everything it can to help refugees, and had already saved around 100,000 from drowning in the Aegean Sea.

Surmount Sectarianism

In his opening speech, Turkish President Erdogan said, “I believe the greatest challenge we need to surmount is sectarianism. My religion is not that of Sunnis, of Shiites. My religion is Islam.”

“We should be uniting. Out of the conflicts, the tyranny, only the Muslims suffer,” he said, adding the summit meeting could be a “turning point” for the whole Islamic world.

Condemn daesh

Erdogan lashed out at the Daesh (the so-called IS) militants who seized swathes of Syria and Boko Haram extremists in Nigeria as two “terrorist organizations that are serving the same evil purpose.”

Opening Speech of King Salman bin Abdulaziz

Addressing the opening session of the 13th Islamic Summit Conference of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in the Turkish city of Istanbul on Thursday, the CUSTODIAN of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman called for adopting a strong position against attempts by some vested interests in blatantly interfering in the internal affairs of some member countries and thereby inciting sectarian strife and divisions.

“The present day realities make it incumbent on us to stand united more than ever to fight the scourge of terrorism as well as to protect the younger generation from its fierce attack. Terrorism targets the youths to get out of the path of their righteous religion and be driven by those who are creating turmoil using the name of our religion, which has nothing to do with them,” he said.

King Salman referred to the major initiative taken recently by the Kingdom in combating terror. “We have made a serious step in this direction through forming an Islamic military alliance, consisting of 39 countries, in order to coordinate all efforts through intellectual, media, financial and military initiatives based on the OIC’s principles and objectives.”

King Salman said by interfering in the internal affairs of others, some vested quarters were instrumental in further aggravating the sectarian division within the Ummah. “The Muslim world is reeling under conflicts and crises that are represented by the blatant interference in the affairs of a number of Islamic countries apart from sowing seeds of discord and division, and inciting sectarian strife. Armed militias are being used to destabilize our security and stability so as to spread their influence and domination,” the King said and called for a strong position to prevent such interference and maintain the security and safety of the Muslim world.

Solution to Palestinian issue

King Salman also called for finding solutions to the burning issues facing the Muslim world. “Finding a just solution to the Palestinian issue in accordance with the Arab peace initiative and international legitimacy resolutions is in the forefront of these issues,” he said.

End to Syrian crisis

“Putting an end to the Syrian crisis in accordance with the decisions of Geneva 1 and Security Council resolution 2254, as well as to support the existing efforts to end the Libyan crisis are other top issues. On the Yemeni issue, we support the UN efforts for the success of consultations to be held in Kuwait in implementation of Security Council resolution 2216,” the King said hoping that the summit would come out with decisions that would further bolster solidarity and achieve more collaboration for the betterment of the Muslim Ummah.

OIC Secretary General Iyad Madani

In his keynote address, OIC Secretary General Iyad Madani said the pan-Islamic body has put the fight against terrorism as it main priority but at the same time he noted that only 21 member states have so far ratified the OIC agreement in this regard.

He urged all Palestinian factions to resolve their differences in order to form a consensus government. He announced that the OIC is working with Iraq to hold the 2nd Makkah Conference to achieve reconciliation in that country.

Madani appealed to the development of humanitarian work in the organization, and announced that the 14th session of the Islamic Summit will be held in Gambia in 2018.

Iyad Madani, secretary general of the 57-member Islamic bloc, said the summit took over 200 decisions. The conference expressed concern over the rising tide of xenophobia, Islamophobia and anti-Muslim racism in Western countries, and called on Western states to take necessary measures to combat these and to ensure the safety and well-being of Muslims there.

Condemning Israel’s continued occupation of the Palestinian territories and its increasing atrocities, the summit confirmed full solidarity with the Palestinian people in their struggle to free themselves from the 49-year-long occupation and called on the global community to support efforts to empower the state of Palestine by all means.

The Summit proceedings concluded on Friday, the 15^th of April 2016 with the adoption of a resolution on Palestine, the OIC Ten-Year Program of Action for 2015-2025, the final communiqué, and the Istanbul Declaration.

Final Closing Session

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who chaired the final session of the OIC summit, lamented the fact that Muslim countries who are “the heirs of a civilization that was built on columns of peace and justice are being remembered more for wars, armed conflict, sectarianism and terrorism.”

Chairing the final session of the summit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that sectarianism, racism and terrorism are the three largest challenges confronting the Muslim world. “As Muslims, we cannot overcome our difficulties without achieving unity in spite of our differences.” The Turkish leader said establishing an international arbitration body in Istanbul was part of the OIC 2025 Action Plan, endorsed by the summit.

Erdogan also welcomed a decision reached a day earlier to create a Turkey-based police coordination centre aimed at increasing cooperation against terrorism.

Final Communique of The OIC Summit

Muslim leaders of the 57-member organization OIC discussed at the OIC Istanbul Summit a range of issues such as the humanitarian fallout from Syria’s civil war and passed their final resolutions.

Deplored Iran’s interference

The OIC said in its final summit communiqué, “The conference deplored Iran’s interference in the internal affairs of the states of the region and other member states including Bahrain, Yemen, Syria, and Somalia, and its continued support for terrorism,”. It “deplored Iran’s interference” and “continued support for terrorism” not only in Syria but also Bahrain, Yemen and Somalia.

Condemned Daesh

The Communique also expressed strong condemnation of the Daesh group and the role of Iran and its proxies in regional conflicts. The conference pledged to combat terrorism in all its forms and condemned Daesh for its use of chemical weapons in Iraq.

The final declaration expressed hope that negotiations that started in Geneva on April 13 would contribute to resolving “the Syrian crisis as soon as possible.”

Bilateral Cooperation Council

At the sidelines of the summit, Turkey and Saudi Arabia signed a memorandum to create a bilateral cooperation council.

Jeddah-based English daily Arab News summarises the OIC Summit’s final communiqués which denounces Tehran’s plots as follows:

• Islamic Summit Conference supports Islamic Military Alliance for Combating Terrorism
• OIC rejects Iran’s inflammatory statements on execution of judicial decisions in Saudi Arabia

• Muslim leaders denounce aggression against Saudi missions in Tehran, Mashhad

• OIC communique deplores Iran’s continued support for terrorism

• Summit deplores Iran’s interference in internal affairs of Bahrain, Yemen, Syria and Somalia
• Leaders rap Hezbollah for terrorist activities in Syria, Bahrain, Kuwait, Yemen

• Hezbollah under fire for supporting terrorist activities that undermine security of OIC states

• Leaders stress need to preserve Syria’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity

• Summit reaffirms its principled support for rights of Palestinians

• Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq and Turkey commended for generously hosting Syrian refugees
• Member states & international community urged to support Syrian refugees

• Daesh condemned for using chemical weapons against the civilians

• Summit reiterates continued support for legitimate Yemeni government of President Hadi
• OIC reaffirms support for people of Kashmir and calls on India to implement UN resolutions
• Conference reiterates its principled position against terrorism in all its forms

Istanbul Summit Final Declaration

A pan-Islamic summit, bringing together leaders from across the Islamic world, concluded in the Turkish city of Istanbul on Friday, the 15^th of April, 2016 with a pledge to combat terrorism, cast aside sectarian differences and address regional conflicts. Followings are part of the final declaration of the Istanbul Summit published in Saudi Gazette.

Deploring its interference

The 13th Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) harshly criticized Iran, deploring its interference in the internal affairs of regional states and other member countries including Bahrain, Yemen, Syria, and Somalia, and its continued support for terrorism, according to the final communiqué issued at the end of the two-day summit.

Condemned Hezbollah

The conference condemned Hezbollah for its role in terrorist activities in Syria, Bahrain, Kuwait, Yemen, and for supporting terrorist movements undermining security of OIC states.

Defend human dignity

The leaders emphasized their shared commitment to defend human dignity by working toward alleviating poverty, addressing social injustices and creating equal opportunities for Muslim minorities.

Interaction with other religions and cultures

The summit recognized the need for the Islamic world to enhance its outreach and interaction with other religions and cultures through constructive dialogue, mutual understanding and moderation.

Condemned terrorism and sectarianism

The OIC condemned terrorism and sectarianism in all their forms and manifestations regardless of motive and wherever and by whomever committed, and call for equal determination toward all terrorist organizations. It renewed unwavering commitment to strengthening cooperation between the OIC and other international organizations to prevent and combat the scourge of terror.

Rejected all attempts to affiliate terrorism

The conference rejected all attempts to affiliate terrorism with any nationality, civilization, religion or ethnic group, and refuse provision of any direct or indirect support to the groups that call for violence, extremism and terrorism.

Fostering tolerance, respect, dialogue

The summit also emphasized the importance of fostering tolerance, respect, dialogue and cooperation among different cultures, civilizations and peoples, besides reiterating that intercultural dialogue, mutual respect and finding common grounds for solidarity are the only means to build peaceful, prosperous and socially cohesive communities.

Solidarity with Muslim minorities

The summit expressed solidarity with Muslim minorities in many non-OIC member states who still face serious oppression and whose rights are disregarded in many cases.

Enhancing the role of Muslim youth

The conference encouraged efforts aimed at strengthening and enhancing the role of Muslim youth in society, and improving the conditions for their education and employment.

Contribution of Muslim women

The conference underlined the importance of the contribution of Muslim women to social life as well as of strengthening the role of women in development of Islamic countries.

Increase intra-OIC trade to 25 percent

The Muslim leaders reaffirmed their resolve to increase intra-OIC trade to 25 percent in the coming ten years. They also welcomed the adoption of the “OIC-2025: Program of Action,” setting ambitious targets in various fields for the member states to achieve over the next ten years.

The leaders also vowed their commitment to continue efforts aimed at increasing the effectiveness of the OIC in making justice and peace prevail all around the world. — With input from Agencies

Summit Resolution on Sustainable Development

Jeddah-based English daily Saudi Gazette summarises the OIC Summit’s final communiqués on Sustainable Development as follows:

The 13th Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which concluded in the Turkish city of Istanbul on Friday (15 April 2016), underscored its keenness and unveiled its program of action aimed at achieving sustainable development of member states in all spheres of life.

Affordable and clean energy

In the final communiqué, issued at the end of the conference, over 50 heads of state and top officials from across the Islamic world have emphasized that access to affordable and clean energy is crucial for achieving sustainable development for the member states. They also acknowledged the importance of integrated water resources management, through conservation, prudent use, and bringing down of wastage to the minimum.

Adoption of the ‘2030 Sustainable Development Agenda,

The summit welcomed the adoption of the ‘2030 Sustainable Development Agenda,’ which has 17 goals and 169 targets. The conference vowed its commitment to their successful implementation within the stipulated time frame, taking into consideration the role of national authorities in cooperation with international bodies.

Sustainable development finds a key place in the OIC Program of Action for the next decade (2016-2025). The summit called upon the member states, the OIC organs and institutions, international partners as well as other stakeholders to undertake all necessary measures for its effective implementation.

Ten-year Program of Action (2006-2015)

The conference noted with satisfaction the successful conclusion of the Ten-year Program of Action (2006-2015), which provided the Islamic Ummah with a forward looking blueprint with a view to enhance Joint Islamic Action in various domains.

Enhance well being

The OIC reiterated its commitment to work together for a better tomorrow and enhance the well being of around 1.7 billion peoples in the 57 member states. It also affirmed commitment to address the shortcomings in the previous decade and to introduce the necessary improvements for the effective implementation of the new program of action.

Culture must be used as leverage for a sustainable development

The summit emphasized that culture must be used as leverage for a sustainable and inclusive development, along with Islamic values, the most significant aspect of which is to mainstream culture as a strategic tool for achieving OIC goals.

Childcare and well being

The conference entrusted the OIC General Secretariat with the task of developing a strategy for the OIC in the field of childcare and well being in the Muslim world, which takes into account, among other things, the health, psychological and educational conditions of children and mothers in areas of conflict, and the issue of child marriage and violence against children. It reaffirmed that preserving the wellbeing and physical health of children is a duty of every parent and society as prescribed by Islam.

The conference welcomed the significant improvement in health care coverage and services in the member states leading to declining trends in child mortality rates from a higher base rate of 125 deaths per 1,000 births in 1990 to 66 deaths per 1,000 births by 2013.

Media, including the social media

The OIC gathering stressed that the media, including the social media, is the most effective tool for spreading information and shaping public opinion. The summit recognized the decisive role it can assume in projecting the bright image of Islam as well as that of the member states to the outside world and achieving the objectives of Islamic solidarity. The conference also called for investment in the development of media infrastructure, improving the professional capacities of media workers, facilitating easy access by the public to information, enhancing OIC media institutions and deepening coordination among them to advance Joint Islamic Action in all fields.

Developing knowledge-based society

The Istanbul meet acknowledged the need for developing knowledge-based society through supporting research and technology for the overall development of the member states. For that purpose, it encouraged expansion and intensification of research and development activities in the institutions and centres of excellence including those in the OIC subsidiary and affiliated ones.

OIC Secretary General felicitated

Muslim leaders acclaimed OIC Secretary General Iyad Madani. “The Muslim leaders commended the efforts of the OIC Secretary General Iyad Madani for his initiatives aimed at promoting and defending unified position on issues of common concern, including the dialogue among civilizations and religions; promoting interfaith harmony, tolerance and non-discrimination; and safeguarding historic and Islamic character of the holy places as well as Islamic heritage.”

This write-up is prepared from the sources: OIC resources, press agencies, Saudi Gazette, Arab News and Al-Jazeera English website.