Israel-US a threat to ‘the very survival’ of Muslims, OIC FMs

By: Abdullah

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia: Muslim nations of the Organization of the Islamic Conference on Monday ruled out dispatch of troops to help the US in Iraq without a UN mandate, leaving Turkey isolated at the world's biggest gathering of Islamic states.

Washington has asked Pakistan, Bangladesh and Turkey to deploy soldiers to ease the burden on United States forces confronting mounting opposition in Iraq, but only Turkey has agreed.

Addressing Monday the opening ceremony of the ministerial preparatory meeting for the 10th session of the Islamic Summit Conference in Putrajaya, Malaysia, the OIC Secretary General Abdelouahed Belkeziz deplored that Muslims are subject to systematic trial and their civil rights are being denied in the international community.

He said that Islam itself together with its civilization, culture and message is being accused but “We and the rest of the world have known Islam as the religion of peace, tolerance and mutual understanding… Islam was and remains in the forefront of religions that accord prominence to human dignity, stress the sanctity of human life and encourage virtues and the highest of human values.”

The meeting denounced Israel and the US-led occupation of Iraq saying they represented a threat to ‘the very survival’ of worldwide Muslim community.

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