The OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) Calls for UN Peace-keeping Force in Syria

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Organisation of Islamic Cooperation

Release Date

Monday, September 14, 2015

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At the 13th September emergency meeting of 57 representatives of OIC nations, the world’s second largest inter-governmental organisation called for a multi-dimensional UN Peace operation in Syria and an OIC framework on refugees to alleviate the Muslim world’s refugee problems.

An Emergency Meeting of the Executive Committee of the OIC convened to discuss the humanitarian crisis in Syria on 13th September 2015 at the General Secretariat in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The meeting was attended by official representatives from all 57 OIC Member State nations from across the Islamic world.

Key OIC recommendations included:
  • For the UN Security Council to create a multi-dimensional UN peace-keeping operation in Syria as a way of addressing the root cause of the refugee crisis -a lack of security and stability in Syria.

  • For OIC Member States to consider adopting a specific OIC framework on refugees to enhance cooperation between Member States in alleviating the Muslim world’s refugee crisis.

  • For all nations, particularly OIC Member States, to receive Syrian refugees as a mark of Islamic compassion and solidarity. The meeting commended the generosity of Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Egypt for hosting Syrian refugees in spite of limited resources and capacity. Over seven million Syrian refugees are to date hosted by OIC Member States.

  • For OIC member states that are non-signatories to the 1951 UN Convention on Refugees to join. Currently over half of OIC Member States are non-signatories, despite many hosting millions of refugees.

  • For OIC Member States to channel some of their humanitarian aid through the OIC to strengthen joint Islamic action.
  • For all countries to refrain from extending military support to the Assad regime.

  • For all Member States and the international community to enhance their contributions to the countries neighbouring Syria that have borne the greatest weight of refuges based on the principle of equitable burden-sharing.

  • The OIC called for the convening, as a matter of urgency, of a meeting of Ministers from OIC member states to discuss and adopt a plan of action on refugee challenges within OIC Member States.

  • The OIC also condemned the sustained massacres and violence by the Assad regime against its own people, and by other extremist groups, especially Daesh, leading to the displacement and forced departure of hundreds of thousands.
The OIC Secretary General, Iyad Ameen Madani said, "the Syrian refugee crisis is not just a Middle Eastern problem, a regional or international problem, it is a global problem. It is therefore imperative that the UN take proactive steps to address the instability and insecurity within Syria that has caused this exodus. A multi-dimensional UN peace-keeping operation in Syria is one such measure that could help provide this much-needed stability."

He added "There is a responsibility upon the international community, not least OIC member states, to share the burden of alleviating the Syrian refugee crisis. At the moment that burden is placed disproportionately upon the neighbouring countries".

A full Communiqué of the Emergency Meeting on the Syrian Refugee Crisis can be found here.

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