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Onus On Muslims To Remove IslamphobiaJune 20, 2006 00:30 AM
Onus On Muslims To Remove Islamphobia, Says Syed Hamid
KUALA LUMPUR, June 20 (Bernama) -- Muslims collectively must take efforts to remove "Islamphobia" among the global community to help build common understanding, said Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar.
"The onus is on Muslims to remove Islamphobia before we can even arrive at a common position with the rest of the global community," he said at the 33rd session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers in Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan, Monday.
"Actions that contribute, directly or indirectly, to the perpetuation of injustice, oppression or aggression against Muslim countries and the Muslim people anywhere must be stopped with strategy and wisdom," he said.
Citing the incident of the defamation of Prophet Muhammad in a caricature, he said there was a need to enhance civilisational dialogue to create better understanding on the sensitivities and differences in the diverse world.
The text of his speech was faxed to Bernama by Wisma Putra Monday.
"The international community as well as the ummah have a clear duty to disallow the marginalisation of Muslims, just as it is incumbent on us to nurture a progressive community firmly rooted in the true teachings of Islam," he said.
He also called on resource-rich Islamic nations to pool their wealth and capacity to improve the socio-economic status of the Muslim community.
The Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) countries with 1.25 billion people or one fifth of the world's population supplies 70 per cent of the world's energy and exports 40 per cent of the global raw material, he said.
"We are still unable to convert our resources into meaningful achievement both at the national and international levels.
"We lack the capacity and the human resources to rid ourselves of crushing poverty and the vicious cycle of debt servicing. We have long since stopped taking pride in our intellectual abilities and capacity," he noted.
He also reminded OIC members to push forward the 10-year plan of action to enhance trade and the development of Muslims around the world.
"The 10 year plan of action if fully implemented will rejuvenate and reposition the OIC as relevant to the needs of Muslims and to the global community to achieve peace, stability and prosperity," he said.
In his speech, Syed Hamid also said Malaysia supported the appointments of Jalal Talabani as Iraqi president and Kamel Al Maliki as the country's prime minister, as well as the formation of Iraq's National Unity Government.
Syed Hamid also urged Iran, which has been embroiled in a controversy with the West, especially the United States over the development of nuclear energy, to cooperate closely with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
"We hope that Iran will continue its cooperation with the IAEA. The IAEA should be allowed ample time to complete its work impartially and without preconditions," he said.
He also noted that since the OIC Committee of Thirteen on Terrorism was established, no meeting had been convened and suggested that the first be held on the sidelines of the 61st United Nations General Assembly in New York in September.
-- BERNAMA
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