OIC experts meet over living conditions of Muslim minorities

A group of experts from the Organization of Islamic Conference "OIC" recommended that more efforts should be made to consolidate the religious and cultural identity of Muslim minorities worldwide and ensure that governments protect their rights.

The OIC experts held their 4th session this April 10-11 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, at the invitation of the Organization secretary general, Azeddine Laraki, who asked them to "define bases of an action for Muslim minorities." Laraki voiced concern at their situation and called Islamic states to secure to Islamic minorities worldwide dignity and equality with the rest of citizens.

The experts looked into means to enforce a resolution of the 23rd session of the Islamic foreign ministers held in Conakry (Guinea) in 1995. In addition to a call to look into the situation of Islamic communities and minorities in non-OIC member countries, the conference also recommended the compiling of a data base on where Muslims are living and to develop a cooperation formula between the pan-Islamic organization and governments where there are Islamic minorities to improve their living conditions and safeguard their religious and cultural identity.