Dysfunctional OIC- Islamic Ummah Needs New Platform & Leadership
Written By: Tariq Niaz Bhatti
Organisation of Islamic Conference later Cooperation(OIC) is a representative body of 57 Muslim states with 1.8 billion population. Based in Jeddah, it was raised in 1969 with Pakistan as its founding member. Since its inception it was dominated by the Arab monarchies whose Ottoman era memories never let the organisation mature into a pan Islamic institution. Hence it failed in achieving objectives like economic uplifting, peace and security and conflict resolution amongst member state. It failed to adopt a unified stand on issues like Indian atrocities in occupied Kashmir and plight of Rohingya Muslims of Myanmar.Moreover, It didn’t do much to help structure internal differences of member states like Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Libya where civil war rages and outside powers call the shots. Most of its failures can be attributed to inefficient leadership mostly hailing from Gulf monarchies, absence of needed changes,hold of western vested interest and a dull charter. Organisation is as ceremonial as are its dominant Arab monarchies.
Turkey replaced Ottoman Empire as a new nation state and in 1924 abolished the office of Caliph associated with Ottoman rulers. Dissolution of Ottoman Empire gave way to emergence of kingdoms and fiefdoms especially in the Middle East (ME)under Sykes-Picot Arrangements.With rising demand of oil, the newly independent nation states of Gulf adopted polices serving their western masters in return for security afforded. KSA got independence in 1929 but the ruler adopted the title of Khadim e Harmain al Shareefain instead of Caliph. After dissolution of Caliphate in Turkey, there was no pan Islamic institution to represent Muslims states or people. Burning of Al-Aqsa mosque proved a turning point and Muslim states went on to announce formation of OIC in 1969.
Today entire Muslim Ummah faces economic political and security related issues. Terrorism by radical youths in the name of Jehad arising out of economic disparities and hardships, are plaguing the entire Ummah. More over Israeli atrocities in occupied Palestinian territories and Indian genocide of innocent Kashmiris in occupied Jammu and Kashmir are burning issues need tough OIC stance. Israel with U.S.assistance is in control of vast Arab territories. On the other hand most of the Arab monarchs are busy in cementing their economic and political relationship with both India and Israel. Under the evolving situation,monarchies dominated OIC is proving itself a toothless organization not even capable of issuing strong statements against these excesses. The current state of affairs is frustrating as interests of monarchies and democratic countries are on divergent courses. This is making the functioning of toothless OIC difficult, chaotic and rendering it worthless. Here Islam offers a unique solution in its concept of Khilafat in Ummah.
To cope up with future challenges it is essential that Muslim Ummah comprising 57 Muslim states be united under a new institution as Islamic Economic Union (IEU) in line with the concept of Caliphate. Under IEU Ummah must declare itself as one market to help bolster preferential internal trade, wider connectivity and movement of labour force both skilled and unskilled in its length and breadth. It should be headed by Caliph chosen by an Assembly of representative coming from all member countries basing on size of population. Gradually,the IEU may move towards single currency and single entry vise for member states and promote internal investment in human resource development, science and future technologies, tourism and gradual converting of oil based economies to knowledge based economies. To strengthen the defense of Ummah, IEU must declare in its adopted charter that any attack on one member state will be considered attack on entire Ummah and would be repulsed as such. Pakistan,the only nuclear capable Muslim nation can provide specific guarantees to all member countries of IEU on nuclear umbrella.
Viewing the dismal economic conditions of most of 57 members OIC, ex Malaysian PM Mahathir Muhammad announced holding a summit meeting on the “Role of Development in Achieving the National Security” in December 2019. In addition to heads of state of Pakistan, Indonesia, Qatar and Turkey, he invited around 460 Muslim leaders’ scholars,clerics and thinkers from all over the Muslim world. KSA was visibly disturbed once Iran and Oman also showed their willingness to join the summit and took the initiative as emergence of new block and a direct challenge to its defacto leadership of Ummah. KSA pressured Pakistan to stay away.
To put an end to Indian atrocities in occupied Kashmir, Pakistan requested OIC for a foreign ministerial meeting to condemn India and show solidarity with Pakistan which is awaited to this day. This delay forced Pakistani Foreign Minister to speak harshly against OIC meaningful inactivity. The minister threatened to hold foreign ministerial conference of like minded Muslim countries to discuss the issue of Indian atrocities and changing constitutional status of disputed state of Jammu and Kashmir if OIC under Jeddah influence d id not budge.
Pakistan has very wisely conveyed its displeasure regarding a dysfunctional OIC dominated by self-styled monarchs of Gulf. It is time for Pakistan to act and strive for a consensus amongst Muslim countries on formation of IEU replacing OIC. A pan Islamic institution like IEU led by a Caliph will unite entire Muslim Ummah under an effective and potent institution. This will go a long way in minimizing nationalistic feelings, reduce economic sufferings, ensure political restructuring, coordinate development, minimize exploitation of Muslim resources, help retrieve occupied Muslim lands and ensure combined defense of Muslim Ummah.
