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Malaysia urges leaders to end rifts, strengthen Muslim voice
Kuala Lumpur, Oct 10: When the Islamic world`s leaders gather in Malaysia next week for the first time since 2000, loud denunciations of Israel and equally vociferous support for the Palestinians are a sure bet.
Kuala Lumpur, Oct 10: When the Islamic world's leaders gather in Malaysia next week for the first time since 2000, loud denunciations of Israel and equally vociferous support for the Palestinians are a sure bet.
But in a world dramatically changed by the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and us-led wars in Muslim Afghanistan and Iraq since the leaders of the 57-member Organisation of the Islamic Conference last held a summit, many Muslims want more.
A growing sense of frustration that international debates on Iraq, the Middle East crisis and the war on terrorism are going against Muslims, along with a battle to shake perceptions that the world's second-largest religion is inherently violent are fuelling a push for reform within the OIC. "It is Malaysia's desire to see the revival of the OIC as a respected organisation that has dignity and is not marginalised," said Syed Hamid Albar, Foreign Minister of Malaysia, the OIC's incoming chair.
Without a United Front, "people don't even consult us on things that affect the Muslims," he said. "We have to look at ourselves and search for what we can do. If we project ourselves as being divided, of course people will not respect us." Senior officials begin talks tomorrow laying the groundwork for the October 16-18 leaders' summit in Malaysia's gleaming new administrative capital Putrajaya.
Bureau Report
A growing sense of frustration that international debates on Iraq, the Middle East crisis and the war on terrorism are going against Muslims, along with a battle to shake perceptions that the world's second-largest religion is inherently violent are fuelling a push for reform within the OIC. "It is Malaysia's desire to see the revival of the OIC as a respected organisation that has dignity and is not marginalised," said Syed Hamid Albar, Foreign Minister of Malaysia, the OIC's incoming chair.
Without a United Front, "people don't even consult us on things that affect the Muslims," he said. "We have to look at ourselves and search for what we can do. If we project ourselves as being divided, of course people will not respect us." Senior officials begin talks tomorrow laying the groundwork for the October 16-18 leaders' summit in Malaysia's gleaming new administrative capital Putrajaya.
Bureau Report