Post by hafeezanwar on Mar 12, 2008 15:54:10 GMT
Report outlines approaches to combat Islamophobia
An observatory set up at the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) general secretariat has issued a report that provides strong arguments on the urgent need for the international community to come up with a binding legal instrument to fight the Islamophobia menace.
The report underscored that the right to freedom of expression should be carried out with responsibilities and cannot be a licence to cause hurt, insults, provoke and incite hatred among religions by defaming, denigrating and insulting the sacred religious symbols of Islam and causing unrest and violence in societies.
The first OIC Observatory Report on Islamophobia focussed on OIC's concerns over the harsh situation that Muslims are facing while living in the western societies, as well as vilification of Islam in that part of the world.
It outlined a slew of short-and long-term measures to counter Islamophobia, including the need to urge the western world to consider strengthening legislation that prohibits discrimination and hate crime motivated by religious or racial bias.
"Western tern societies should consider enhancing efforts to prosecute and take legal action against discriminatory and violent acts, encouraging Muslims to report such crimes to police and preventing discrimination against Muslim women on the grounds of dress," said the report submitted for consideration at the two-day 11th OIC Summit in Dakar beginning Thursday.
The document noted that western societies, including governments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the civil society, had started to take serious note of OIC concerns over the dangers of defamation of Islam and willingness to engage in dialogue.
"However, their positive response still falls short of the actions and political will to address the issue in definitive terms. The Islamophobes remain free to carry on their assaults due to absence of legal measures necessary for misusing or abusing the right to freedom of expression," the report said.
The Muslim world is particularly concerned because when the overwhelming majority of Muslims strictly adhere to the principles and teaching of peace and tolerance are against any form of terrorism or extremism in Islam, these vested groups of Islamaphobes are giving a negative portrayal that Islam and Muslims are supportive of terrorism and extremism.
"They also ignore the fact that many Muslim countries are themselves victims of terror and active partners of the international community in combating terror and extremism," said the Observatory Report 2007, which is a collation of incidents and developments that vindicate the Muslim community's concerns over the rising trend of Islamophobia.
The observatory had based its conclusions on statements by, among others, Muslim and anti-racist groups, materials published by international human rights organisations and monitoring bodies, research findings as well as media reports.
The common misconception in the Western nations that Muslim countries have not spoken out against terrorism needs to be corrected without any delay as the OIC and its member states had minced no words in condemning terrorism, it said.
The observatory noted that the programmes of different OIC member states could be part of the strategy to correctly project Islam as a religion of moderation, peace and tolerance.
It said that OIC members may continue their joint efforts towards the adoption of an international Convention for promotion, understanding, tolerance and respect between different cultures and religions.
The observatory favoured encouraging the civil society and NGOs to organise conferences and get involved in bilateral interactions for recognition of Islamophobia as an issue that is dangerous to global peace and security, and to motivate the general public, including those at the grass roots against Islamophobia.
"The need to build an effective network of relevant actors that could exert efforts in countering Islamophobia is a pressing one," it said.
The report said media and internet service providers should be encouraged to develop clear codes of conduct and training programmes for journalists and other media professionals to promote diversity and combat Islamophobia.
It said efforts must be made to disseminate well written researched articles and papers on Islam and arrange to have them published in reputed newspapers of the West.
The media should also be encouraged to promote further dialogue between the Islamic world and the West and to highlight best practices in promoting tolerance and dialogue among civilizations. -Agencies
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An observatory set up at the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) general secretariat has issued a report that provides strong arguments on the urgent need for the international community to come up with a binding legal instrument to fight the Islamophobia menace.
The report underscored that the right to freedom of expression should be carried out with responsibilities and cannot be a licence to cause hurt, insults, provoke and incite hatred among religions by defaming, denigrating and insulting the sacred religious symbols of Islam and causing unrest and violence in societies.
The first OIC Observatory Report on Islamophobia focussed on OIC's concerns over the harsh situation that Muslims are facing while living in the western societies, as well as vilification of Islam in that part of the world.
It outlined a slew of short-and long-term measures to counter Islamophobia, including the need to urge the western world to consider strengthening legislation that prohibits discrimination and hate crime motivated by religious or racial bias.
"Western tern societies should consider enhancing efforts to prosecute and take legal action against discriminatory and violent acts, encouraging Muslims to report such crimes to police and preventing discrimination against Muslim women on the grounds of dress," said the report submitted for consideration at the two-day 11th OIC Summit in Dakar beginning Thursday.
The document noted that western societies, including governments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the civil society, had started to take serious note of OIC concerns over the dangers of defamation of Islam and willingness to engage in dialogue.
"However, their positive response still falls short of the actions and political will to address the issue in definitive terms. The Islamophobes remain free to carry on their assaults due to absence of legal measures necessary for misusing or abusing the right to freedom of expression," the report said.
The Muslim world is particularly concerned because when the overwhelming majority of Muslims strictly adhere to the principles and teaching of peace and tolerance are against any form of terrorism or extremism in Islam, these vested groups of Islamaphobes are giving a negative portrayal that Islam and Muslims are supportive of terrorism and extremism.
"They also ignore the fact that many Muslim countries are themselves victims of terror and active partners of the international community in combating terror and extremism," said the Observatory Report 2007, which is a collation of incidents and developments that vindicate the Muslim community's concerns over the rising trend of Islamophobia.
The observatory had based its conclusions on statements by, among others, Muslim and anti-racist groups, materials published by international human rights organisations and monitoring bodies, research findings as well as media reports.
The common misconception in the Western nations that Muslim countries have not spoken out against terrorism needs to be corrected without any delay as the OIC and its member states had minced no words in condemning terrorism, it said.
The observatory noted that the programmes of different OIC member states could be part of the strategy to correctly project Islam as a religion of moderation, peace and tolerance.
It said that OIC members may continue their joint efforts towards the adoption of an international Convention for promotion, understanding, tolerance and respect between different cultures and religions.
The observatory favoured encouraging the civil society and NGOs to organise conferences and get involved in bilateral interactions for recognition of Islamophobia as an issue that is dangerous to global peace and security, and to motivate the general public, including those at the grass roots against Islamophobia.
"The need to build an effective network of relevant actors that could exert efforts in countering Islamophobia is a pressing one," it said.
The report said media and internet service providers should be encouraged to develop clear codes of conduct and training programmes for journalists and other media professionals to promote diversity and combat Islamophobia.
It said efforts must be made to disseminate well written researched articles and papers on Islam and arrange to have them published in reputed newspapers of the West.
The media should also be encouraged to promote further dialogue between the Islamic world and the West and to highlight best practices in promoting tolerance and dialogue among civilizations. -Agencies
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