by admin | May 25, 2021 | Muslim World
Malatya : The Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC), a subsidiary organ of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), is organizing a training program on Muslim Friendly Tourism (MFT), under the theme of “Improving Islamic Tourism Ecosystem in OIC Member Countries: Destination and Industry Development”.
The program, being held in the Turkish historical city of Malatya on July 9-12, includes a two-day training course and two-day study visits in the area. It mainly aims to give participants an exceptional opportunity to learn how to develop a sound Islamic tourism destination and industry in their countries. The training course is being provided by experts from the Islamic Tourism Centre of Malaysia (ITC).
During the two days dedicated to the field visit, participants will have the chance to acquire practical experience in developing a competitive tourism destination based on the Turkish experience. Whilst, during the study visits, participants will explore the opportunities for Malatya to be an Islamic tourism destination and will make an analysis for the city in order to guide policymakers to be better informed about the potentials and challenges of the city on this important tourism field. Moreover, industry development priorities are expected to be identified at the end of the study visits.
The training program is a part of a project funded by the OIC Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC), under the COMCEC Project Funding (CPF) scheme, aimed at strengthening the capacities of the Ministries of Tourism and Culture of the OIC countries and foster further development of the Muslim Friendly Tourism through capacity development training, exchange of experience and know-how, as well as by identifying a roadmap for Islamic Tourism Destination.
Malatya, located in east-central Turkey, has been selected as a case study due to its historic and cultural potential going back to the Ottoman and Seljuk Empires that ensures a unique opportunity for the participants to study the city as a case of MFT destination and industry development.
This program is a continuation of the project entitled “Training Program on the Development and Promotion of Muslim Friendly Tourism in COMCEC Member Countries” that was implemented by SESRIC in 2017, within the COMCEC Project Funding scheme.
The funding is provided in a form of a grant by the Turkish government through the Development Bank of Turkey, which is one of the main bodies in the COMCEC Project Funding scheme. Several SESRIC projects have been financed by this funding scheme since 2014.
—AB/UNA-OIC
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Muslim World
Rabat : The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), in coordination with the Islamic Development and Research Academy (IDARA), will hold the Islamic-European Forum for Examining Cooperation Ways to Curb Hate Speech in the Media, in Brussels, Belgium, on June 29-30.
The forum, to be held at the Press Club Brussels Europe, aims to publicize the contents of the OIC Media Strategy to Counter Islamophobia and ISESCO’s Program for Training Media Professionals on Redressing Stereotypes about Islam and Muslims; diagnose the role of the media in propagating hate speech and Islamophobia; support cooperation and coordination among media professionals to promote human rights culture and distinguish between the freedom of expression and defamation of religions, reject racism and hate, and cater for coexistence needs; and explore ways to develop cooperation mechanisms among Muslim media professionals and their fellows from Western countries within the framework of the professional ethics and respect for international laws on media and communication.
The forum’s agenda features four main themes: stereotypes about the other in the media between the freedom of expression and respect for human rights; requirements for promoting communication and cooperation among media professionals; addressing reciprocal stereotypes; countering Islamophobia, and providing the conditions suitable for coexistence. In addition, a workshop will be held during the forum to assess and adopt the final version of the “Guidebook for Training Media Professionals to Cover Terrorist Acts”, prepared by the OIC General Secretariat.
The conference will come to close with the adoption of the “Draft Brussels Declaration on Curbing Hate Speech in the Media” and the “Draft Declaration of the Creation of the International League of Media Professionals to Curb Hate and Extremism”.
Participants in the event will include various media professionals from the OIC member states, European countries, experts in international law, press law and human rights, representatives of NGOs interested in the issues of dialogue, security and interfaith coexistence, as well as the director of the OIC Standing Committee for Information and Cultural Affairs (COMIAC).
The opening ceremony will be attended by the representatives of many diplomatic missions of Arab and Islamic countries accredited to Belgium, representative of the OIC Mission in Brussels, along with representatives of the Belgian ministries of justice and interior, the European Commission and the European Parliament.
The forum is organized as part of cooperation and coordination between ISESCO and the OIC General Secretariat to meet the challenges arising from the mounting Islamophobia and promote communication and cooperation between media professionals in the Islamic world and beyond. It also comes in implementation of the relevant resolutions of the Islamic conferences of information and culture ministers.
—AB/UNA-OIC
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Muslim World
Istanbul : The 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has vowed to take “all necessary steps” to prevent other countries from following the US example of moving their Israel embassies to Jerusalem.
The move on Friday came after the group held an extraordinary summit in Istanbul upon the call of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in response to the US inauguration of its embassy in Jerusalem and the killings of more than 60 Palestinian protestors by Israeli forces on Monday, Xinhua reported.
Citing Guatemala which has followed suit, the final communique adopted at the conclusion of the meeting voiced “determination to take the appropriate political, economic and other measures against countries which recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel or relocate their embassies thereto.”
“Countries running for international posts seeking the OIC’s support for their candidature will be assessed based on their positions regarding the Palestine question, in particular on Jerusalem,” said the final communique.
In the document, the group is calling for “necessary action” against member states failing to comply with OIC resolutions on the Palestinian cause.
Declaring the Israeli use of deadly force against unarmed Palestinians as “savage crimes,” the group called for an international protection of the Palestinians, urging member states as well as the international community to ban the import of products made in Israeli settlements built on the occupied land.
Reaffirming its rejection of US President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, the OIC called the embassy relocation move an act of “provocation and hostility” against the Muslim community.
“Sending international peace force to Palestinians who sacrifice young children every day to Israeli terror is imperative,” Turkish President Erdogan said at a press conference.
“Responsibility for consequences of this provocative decision to sabotage the peace process entirely belongs to the US,” he added.
—IANS
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Business Summit, Events, Muslim World, Social Round-up
Turkey’s presidential spokesman Dr. Ibrahim Kalin
Istanbul : The Islamic Summit, to be held in Istanbul on Friday, will discuss the positions and steps of Muslim countries to defend the cause of Palestine and Jerusalem through cooperation and solidarity with the Palestinian state and its people.
This came in a statement circulated Thursday by Turkey’s presidential spokesman Dr. Ibrahim Kalin on the Summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) at the level of heads of state and government of the member states, under the auspices of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Kalin noted that the summit will discuss the US administration’s violation of international law following the relocation of its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, as well as the serious developments that emerged after the killing of innocent Palestinians participating in peaceful demonstrations in Gaza. He underscored that the issue of Palestine and Israeli occupation does not only concern Islamic countries, but is a common issue for all those who believe in law and justice.
“The Islamic summit will discuss steps to mobilize international public opinion towards ending grievances in Palestine,” the presidential spokesman said.
—AB/UNA-OIC
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Muslim World
Jeddah : The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has welcomed the UN Security Council resolution calling for a 30-day ceasefire in Syria.
In a press statement on Sunday, OIC Secretary-General Yousef bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen, expressed hopes the UNSC resolution would be a “significant development towards a permanent ceasefire and a peaceful solution to the seven-year civil conflict”.
The UNSC adopted the resolution on Saturday, calling for the ceasefire in Syria to allow for humanitarian aid deliveries.
Al-Othaimeen stressed the need for full commitment to the provisions of the resolution to end the suffering of the Syrian people especially in the Eastern Ghouta district in Damascus, which had been heavily bombarded during the past days.
Meanwhile, Syrian government forces continued their airstrikes and shelling of Eastern Ghouta, defying the new ceasefire resolution.
A week of intense attacks on Eastern Ghouta killed at least 510 people, including 127 minors, according to latest figures.
—IANS
