Factors that forced the Muslims to establish OIC. Strategy to become Potential Block in World

Introduction On 21 August 1969, a fire was started in the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. Mufti of Jerusalem called the arson a "Jewish crime" and called for all Muslim heads of state to unite. OIC established on 25 September 1969 in Rabbat, Morocco. Second summit of OIC was held from 22 to 24 February 1974 in Lahore Pakistan. HQ is in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, First Secretary General was Tinko. A. Rahman, Present S G Mr. Hissein Brahim Taha, Pakistani S G Sharifudin Pirzada. The official languages of the OIC are Arabic, English, and French. Members 57. Area- 23% of total world area, Population more than 1.60 billion, 21% of world population, Gross Domestic Product more 1500 Billion Dollar. 50% of oil & Gas production. Export 40% of total. Reserves 70% of the world. Intra OIC trade only less than 20%. Growth rate around 4.5%. First Summit was held in Rabbat Morocco on 25 September 1969. 14th Islamic Summit was held in Makkah Al-Mukarramah on 31 May 2019. The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) formerly Organization of the Islamic Conference is the second largest inter-governmental organization after the United Nations, consist of 57 states, and spread over four continents. Albania, located in Eastern Europe, whereas Guyana and Suriname, in Northern and South America respectively. The Organization is the collective voice of the Muslim world and ensuring to protect vital economic, strategic interests of the Muslim 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 in reaction to criminal arson of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem. The present Charter was adopted in Dakar on 13-14 March 2008, which laid down the objectives and principles of the organization. The OIC was established on the noble principles of peace, harmony, tolerance, brotherhood and equality of all human beings as preached by Islam. The Organization has the singular honor to galvanize the Ummah into a unified body and have actively represented the Muslims by espousing all causes close to the hearts of over 1.8 billion Muslims of the world. The organization has taken various steps to remove misperceptions and strongly advocated for elimination of discrimination against the Muslims in all forms and manifestations. Factors that forced Muslims to unite. Since balkanization of Middle East after the world wars, the Middle East has remained a flashpoint of unrest and strife. Israel continues its occupation of Palestinian and other Arab lands, with impunity. Its repressive policies in the West Bank and brutal blockade of Gaza have pushed the local population into a long nightmare of terror and misery. The brutalities of Israel with the help of US and European countries increased. Israel was occupying Arab lands and unleashed a terror on the Palestinian. The UNO was made helpless due to vetoes by US for protection of Israel. The US and its ally’s policies and political, diplomatic and strategic support to Israel were hindering the efforts of Arab League in bringing about a speedy resolution to the current Middle Eastern conflict. While the Al-Aqsa fire is regarded as one of the reason for the formation of the OIC, many Muslims have aspired to a pan-Islamic institution that would serve the common ideological, political, economic, and social interests of the Ummah since the 19th century. The oppression of Western Colonial powers was reached highest level in all fields. In particular, the collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the Caliphate after World War I left a vacuum. The Arab League strived but could not protect the interests of members. The intrigues against all Muslim countries were hatched by European countries to make them dependent and control their economic and military policies. The western countries were supporting dictatorship and denying the democratic and human rights to the Muslims. They created rhetoric about the threat of communism against the Islam to get support of rulers of Muslim countries. The largest Muslim country Pakistan gained Independence from British in 1947. Pakistan was disintegrated in two parts with the support of major powers of world. The subjugated countries of Africa also got freedom from European powers. These conditions also necessitated a potent forum of all Muslims to stand against the common enemy. Considering above circumstance the OIC was established and Muslim Leaders made it a potent forum. Its collective voice was heard in all forums of world like The UN and Non Aligned Movement. The collective voice forced the western countries to solve not only Muslim problems but also all third world countries. The UN increased socio-economic aids to third World countries. The collective voice forced the superpowers to stop proxy wars and end the Cold War. All Muslim leaders of Muslim world who raised voice against these powers were killed one after the other. The strategic policies of Major Powers divided the Muslim world into ideological camps fighting against each other on irrational ideological and territorial issues. The major powers due to their global interest did not allow Muslim countries to unite and act in unison and created many hurdles. Aims and Objectives of OIC are to enhance and consolidate the bonds of fraternity and solidarity among the Member States, protect political, economic, technological and strategic interests and support the legitimate causes of the Member States on all forums collectively. OIC upholds the right of self-determination and non-interference in the domestic affairs of Muslim countries, political independence and territorial integrity of each Member State. OIC endeavors to strengthen intra-Islamic economic and trade cooperation in order to achieve economic integration leading to the establishment of an Islamic Common Market. Challenges and problems facing the Muslim Ummah. The Muslim World is faced with grave political, social, economic, cultural and scientific challenges with implications for unity. There are some elements who want to weaken the oldest platform of Muslims on instigation of major powers of World. The global peace cannot be restored without addressing the conflicts that beset the Islamic world. The OIC should focus efforts on poverty eradication, human development, harness natural resources, and adopt modern technology for peace and economic prosperity. OIC has to address these formidable threats and strive to erect an unbreakable edifice of Muslim Ummah so that the Muslim Ummah may stand collectively against their adversaries in global politics and preserve their vital economic and strategic interests. It is the prime responsibility of OIC to bridge the gap between the various ideologies. Problems facing the Ummah are complex and varied, warranting a collective endeavor of all Muslim countries to join hands in finding a credible solution, through a process of broad-based consultation. The Muslim world faces threats of fragmentation. The territorial and ideological independence, political and economic rights of all Muslim are being violated and trampled by big powers to suit their national interests. Following, 9/11 incident, Islam has been demonized as a religion supportive of terror and interpreted as an existential challenge to the West and its values of democracy and human rights. The numerous issues being faced by the Muslim Ummah at present are the civil war and security issues in Syria, political instability in Iraq and Afghanistan, war like situation between US and Iran, and political and economic instability, civil wars in Muslim countries of Africa, inhumane treatment with Muslim minorities in India, Myanmar and Europe, China. The Muslims of Jammu and Kashmir are enduring the brutalities committed by Indian forces and denied the right of self-determination is another major challenge to Ummah. The economic degradation, political and technological dependence on foreign powers despite abundant natural and human resources in the Muslim world are the main problems of Muslim world. The misconception about the religion of Islam has increased in the European countries by presenting false reports by the western dominated research institutes and media to create misunderstanding among Muslim countries. Strategic and Economic Potential of OIC It is worth noting that nature has gifted enormous natural and human resources and unique geo-strategic advantage to the OIC Member States. Most of the important waterways and strategic choke points are either possessed or dominated by Muslim countries. Possession and exploitation of natural resources and industrial production are essential for the economic development of any nation. It is pertinent to note that GDP of Muslim countries is very low as compared to developed countries. Only ten members of the OIC are amongst the world Top 50 countries with higher GDP in the world. In case of the OIC, the main binding force is religion. Islam is a religion of peace and harmony, which advocates peaceful co-existence. Due to innumerable reasons, Muslim world is neither united nor cohesive. Therefore, lack of unity and solidarity has harmed the Muslims in many ways. They lack political will, follow the policies of major powers. Since the OIC represents a large group of nations, structure, character and nature of governments differ considerably due to their peculiar history. Only a few countries have democratic system, which also suffers from many non-democratic practices. Arab spring has overthrown many rulers and destroyed their social, economic development and infrastructure. The OIC member states have enormous resources, which are exploited by the big powers that are the main reason why Muslim cannot progress economically and technologically. They are dependent on big powers for advancement in science and technological field. There is inadequate weightage of Muslims at the international level despite the fact they represent one-fifth of the world’s population, posses 70 per cent of global availability of raw material. The collective OIC share in global trade is barely 7% and their collective GDP amounts to a meager 5% of world GDP. In today’s world, economic and technological strength determines the status of a country in the comity of nations. Therefore, without economic growth and technological development the Muslim would remain vulnerable to external manipulation. The OIC must turn challenges into opportunities and act collectively. Muslim countries have to address and overcome internal weakness and vulnerabilities and develop human resources to reduce poverty as poverty and illiteracy breed militancy and extremism. They are forced to be dependent on big powers for advancement in science and technological field. It has let pass one catastrophe after the other; emerging weaker after each fiasco. The world order and global peace cannot be restored without addressing the conflicts that beset the Islamic world. The OIC members should be less consuming countries than exporting countries. The banking system should be overhauled and money of all Muslim countries be deposited with it. The resources of Muslim countries are contributing to the advancement and wellbeing of western countries. Strategy to make OIC a potent Forum in Global International System. The OIC has not been able to enhance politico-economic plight of Muslim countries due to their narrow ideological differences. OIC has bitterly failed to accelerate strategy to counter Islamophobia due passive policy, the question of Palestine, the rights of Muslim minorities. OIC has only passed innocuous resolutions condemning the perpetrator but lacked concrete steps that may compel the perpetrator to desist. OIC utterly failed to stop fraternal war between Iran and Iraq, Iraq’s occupation of Kuwait, Israel’s brutalities, and Indian brutalities in Kashmir, Indians persecution of Muslim minority, and persecution of Muslims of Myanmar. It will become synonym of “Oh I SEE” provided not adopted policies according to changing times. In order to become a potential and powerful organisation the OIC has to overcome all constraints and structural lacunas to become a true representative block of the Muslim world like EU, ASEAN and NATO. The OIC should devise strategy to deal separately economic, strategic, and Technological fields. The Islamic Summit, the highest forum of the OIC, should meet every year before United Nations session to exert pressure on global community to recognize its voice as one solid entity and respond in positive and effective way. The OIC should cooperate decisively and adopt collective measures in order to face challenges and work for the betterment of Muslims irrespective colour, language and origin. Collective decisions backed by Muslim population will revive the Muslim Ummah's prestige and influence in Global Politics. The OIC should immediately take cognizance of any issue confronting Muslim world and exert its influence by aggressive policy and reaction against perpetrator. In current grave troubling international scenario unification and strengthening of the OIC or Ummah is of utmost essential. The OIC should counter the false repots issued by the west dominated research institutes solely for creating misunderstanding and misperceptions not only among the brethren Muslims but also between Islamic and Western countries. The OIC should strengthen its research institutes to counter false and fabricated research published by western countries and suggest ways and means to tackle economic, political, and diplomatic issues confronting Muslims. The OIC should exert tangible pressure on the United Nations Security council to solve the bleeding wound of South Asia and Middle East. UN should implement and fulfill its resolutions to hold plebiscite in Jammu and Kashmir within certain prescribed period otherwise OIC threaten to leave the UN collectively like Germany left the League of Nations. OIC should exert its collective pressure on the UN to play an active role regarding inhuman treatment to Muslim minorities around the world and enhance economic assistance for them. The OIC should adopt actionable and doable approaches. In order to overcome these constraints, a collective will is required on part of the whole ummah. By following pro active strategy OIO would be able to turn a new leaf in the global Politics. It should devise a viable strategy for damage reduction caused by the various internal and external threats. Special attention should be given to Africa, which is the most affected region, due to poverty, diseases, illiteracy, famine, debt burden and colonial occupation. In the economic and scientific fields, the Ummah needs to achieve higher levels of economic development and advancement in technological field. The OIC should encourage Muslim countries to enhancing economic cooperation and increase intra Muslim countries trade which is very low. The OIC should adopt strategy to meet the challenges of globalization, economic liberalization, environment, and science and technology. The ideological difference should be mitigated among the Muslim countries in the spirit of Last Sermon given by the Holy Prophet. The OIC has to convince western countries that terrorism is not religious based but it is a reaction of anti Muslim policies followed by these countries in the world and it is secretly supported by their historical and ideological enemies. OIC should prevail upon its members to be neutral in ideological and commercial conflicts between NATO and Asian NATO. OIC should devise strategy to reduce dependence on foreign world, initiate collective defense production and nuclear cooperation. It should exert pressure on US, CHINA, RUSSIA, and European Countries to transfer latest Technology to Muslim countries and help in industrialization or face collective reaction of Muslim countries. A new strategy is to be devised to evolve new relations with all major countries. Relations should be based on interest based approach. These major powers must be realized that they should transfer latest technology to Muslim countries. In order to overcome these socio-economic challenges, the OIC should implement Ten-Year Program of Action, and initiate extensive reforms in all spheres of activities including science and technology, education, trade enhancement to achieve higher levels of human development. The OIC should devise an economic policy to create a unified Islamic currency acceptable in all Muslim countries. These agreed goals can only be achieved if the Muslim world is free from internal strife and external pressure. Strong economy and sincere Muslim leadership can create Muslim world‘s ability to withstand global pressures and safeguard interests of Muslims around the world. No doubt the OIC has helped solve many serious disputes by persuading the warring states. OIC along with Non Aligned Movement persuaded both super poers to stop cold war and reduce nuclear proliferation in the world. It helped in solving Afghan crises and exerted pressure on USSR to withdraw from that country in 89. OIC has played a positive role in bringing peace deal in Afghanistan between US and Afghanistan and facilitated peaceful withdrawal of US from Afghanistan in August 2021. The OIC should adopt a collective stand to avert third world war between US and Russia over Ukraine and try to persuade US from NATO expansion towards east. It is helping various agencies of UN to fight poverty, hunger, disease and underdevelopment from world. No doubt the OIC has been playing positive role in promoting World Peace. The OIC supports all UN efforts to maintain international peace and security. The OIC member states are providing maximum forces to the UN for peacekeeping operations in the world. OIC has strived to defuse the global crises ranging from Cold War to Syrian crises, and elimination of Apartheid. The global community has acknowledged OICs vital role in promoting international Peace and Cooperation. Prof Dr Qayum Mangi CSS Academy Sukkur