Topics Covered: Important International institutions, agencies and fora, their structure, mandate.
Islamic Cooperation countries (OIC)
What to study?
For Prelims: IOC- key facts.
For Mains: India’s involvement in the organization, need, significance and challenges.
Context: The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has voiced concern over the Citizenship Amendment Act and the verdict in the Ayodhya case.
The body has usually been supportive of Pakistan and often sided with Islamabad in its disputes with India.
Background:
The Citizenship Amendment Bill was passed by the Parliament and signed into law by the President this month.
According to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan till December 31, 2014 following religious persecution there will get Indian citizenship.
Observations made by OIC:
- The OIC urged the Indian government to ensure the safety of the Muslim minority and the protection of their religious sites.
- It also cautioned that “any action, contrary to these principles and obligations, may lead to further tensions and may have serious implications on peace and security across the region.”
About the OIC:
- Organisation of Islamic Cooperation is an international organization founded in 1969, consisting of 57 member states.
- It is the second largest inter-governmental organization after the United Nations.
- The organisation states that it is “the collective voice of the Muslim world” and works to “safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony “.
- The OIC has permanent delegations to the United Nations and the European Union.
- Permanent Secretariat is in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Significance of OIC for India:
OIC’s growing economic and energy interdependence with India has become important in recent times.
That India has one of the world’s largest Muslim populations, of course, is the immediate explanation of the surprising invite for Swaraj to address the OIC.
Sources: the Hindu.
