News: Recently, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) strongly condemned the recent Israeli strikes on Iran, Syria, and Lebanon, urging the international community to take swift and decisive action.
About Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)
- It was formally established in May 1971 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- It originated after two key summits: The 1969 Rabat Summit (in response to the arson attack on Al-Aqsa Mosque) and the 1970 Jeddah meeting of Muslim foreign ministers.
- Membership: 57 member states across four continents, making it the second-largest intergovernmental organization after the UN.
- Members include countries such as Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the Palestinian Authority, among others.
- Syria has been suspended since 2012 due to the civil war. Egypt was suspended in 1979 over the Camp David Accords but rejoined in 1984.
- The OIC also has permanent delegations to the United Nations and the European Union.
- Headquarters: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- Official Languages: Arabic, English, and French.
Key Bodies:
- Islamic Summit Conference (ISC): Highest authority of OIC, convened every three years to set organizational policy.
- Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM): Meets annually to implement summit decisions and set directions for cooperation.
- General Secretariat: Executive body responsible for the implementation of decisions and coordination among members.
- Ministerial Committees: It was created for cooperation in political, economic, social, cultural, spiritual, and scientific fields. Some committees are chaired by heads of member states.
Key Initiatives and Institutions:
- Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) – Promotes economic development and social progress.
- Islamic Solidarity Fund (ISF) – Provides financial support for humanitarian and developmental activities.
- International Islamic News Agency (IINA) – Aims to improve the global image of Islam and Muslims.
- World Centre for Islamic Education – Promotes education in Islamic values and sciences.
- Collaborates with UN agencies, governments, and civil society organizations (CSOs) to tackle global challenges affecting Muslims and member states.
