OIC chief warns against inciting anti-Islam hatred

The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu voiced his deep concern over the dangerous implications of the recent spate of Islamophobic actions, IINA reported.

He made the remarks after the inaugural session of the open ended Inter Governmental Meeting of Group of Experts that met here Monday to discuss OIC Plan of Action for Women.

He said the actions such as that caused by reprint of cartoons depicting Prophet Muhammad in Danish newspapers and the release of the offensive documentary "Fitna" by Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders defaming the Holy Quran and causing widespread insult to the sentiments of Muslims of the world.

"Fitna documentary was a reprehensible act of incitement and intolerance against peaceful inter-religious and inter-communal cohabitation that challenges the global agenda for peace and development," he said.

The OIC chief noted that the international community including, the Secretary General of the United Nations, the Presidency of the European Union, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the national and international television networks had shown their sense of responsibility by rejecting and denouncing the documentary and the Dutch Government dissociating themselves from the filmmaker.

"It was, nonetheless, unfortunate and regrettable that vested groups and individuals who professes hatred, intolerance and harbor prejudice and discrimination against Muslims ...