Organization of Islamic Cooperation Founded

# Founding of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), originally called the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, was founded in Rajab 1389 AH (September 1969 CE) at the first Islamic Summit Conference held in Rabat, Morocco. The world's largest intergovernmental organization with a primarily Muslim membership, the OIC serves as a collective voice for Muslim-majority states in international affairs and as a forum for cooperation on political, economic, social, and cultural issues.

Background: The Al-Aqsa Fire

The immediate catalyst for the OIC's founding was an act of arson. On 21 August 1969 CE (8 Jumada al-Awwal 1389 AH), an Australian Christian fanatic named Denis Michael Rohan set fire to the Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The fire caused significant damage to the Mosque, including burning the historic pulpit (minbar) of Salah ad-Din al-Ayyubi, which had been placed there after the recapture of Jerusalem in 1187 CE.

The arson of the Aqsa Mosque, the third holiest site in Islam, caused shock and outrage throughout the Muslim world. Israel's administration of Jerusalem after the 1967 war was already controversial, and the attack on the mosque intensified demands for Muslim states to take collective action to protect Islamic holy sites.

The Rabat Summit

King Faisal of Saudi Arabia and King Hassan II of Morocco played key roles in convening the emergency Islamic Summit Conference in Rabat on 22-25 September 1969 CE. Twenty-four Muslim-majority states attended.

The summit's founding declaration articulated several principles:

• Promoting solidarity among Muslim states
• Protecting the interests of Muslim peoples
• Supporting the Palestinians' rights to their homeland and Jerusalem
• Coordinating cooperation in political, economic, social, and cultural fields

Formal Establishment

The OIC was formally established at a foreign ministers' conference in Jeddah in 1970 CE. Its permanent secretariat was established in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The OIC Charter was signed in 1972 CE.

The organization was initially called the Organisation of the Islamic Conference. In 2011 CE, it was renamed the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to reflect a broader cooperative rather than merely conferential mandate.

Membership and Structure

The OIC has grown to include 57 member states — the largest intergovernmental organization after the United Nations. Its members span four continents, from Morocco in the west to Indonesia in the east, and from Kazakhstan in the north to Mozambique in the south. Observer status has been granted to several other states and organizations.

The organization's principal organs include the Islamic Summit (the supreme body, meeting every three years), the Council of Foreign Ministers (meeting annually), the Permanent Secretariat, and several specialized bodies and subsidiary institutions.

Key Concerns and Activities

Palestine. The OIC has consistently identified the Palestinian cause and the status of Jerusalem as its central concern. It does not recognize Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem and advocates for an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Economic cooperation. The OIC has established institutions to promote trade and economic development among member states, including the Islamic Development Bank (founded 1973 CE), which provides interest-free financing in accordance with Islamic financial principles.

Cultural cooperation. The OIC promotes Islamic arts, education, and culture through institutions like the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO).

Humanitarian assistance. The OIC coordinates humanitarian response to crises affecting Muslim communities, from natural disasters to conflicts.

Challenges and Criticisms

The OIC has faced criticism for its limited effectiveness in resolving conflicts among member states (several OIC members have fought each other), for being dominated by the political agendas of powerful member states, and for inconsistent application of the human rights principles it espouses.

Nevertheless, as the primary institutional expression of Muslim collective identity and cooperation in international affairs, the OIC plays a significant role in global diplomacy, particularly on issues concerning Muslim communities worldwide.

Sources

• OIC Charter (1972, revised 2008)
• Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, The Islamic World in the New Century: The Organisation of the Islamic Conference
• Cemil Aydin, The Idea of the Muslim World
• Abdullahi Ahmed an-Naim (ed.), Islamic Family Law in a Changing World