OIC Welcomes US Move to Distinguish Islam From Terrorism

The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) has welcomed the U.S. government’s instructions to avoid the use of terms linking Islam with terrorism.

The U.S. government recently instructed federal agencies, including the State Department, the National Counter Terrorism Unit and the Department of Homeland Security to cease using the terms “Jihadist”, “Islamic fascism”, “Salafi” or “Sufi” in reference to Muslims.

The OIC secretariat spokesman commended the move when it was first reported on 24 April by Associated Press (AP), said an OIC communiqué copied to APA.

The OIC described the decision as a “positive development”, saying it “goes toward allaying fears and misconceptions about Islam and Muslims in the USA and across the world.”

Islamophobia was discussed at the 11th OIC summit held in Dakar on 13-14 March 2008, when the first report of the OIC Observatory on Islamophobia made recommendations on the phenomenon.

The observatory advised participants to divide the recommendations into two parts, namely “short-term (for immediate action” and long-term (for further later/simultaneous action) concerning specific areas of intervention. ”

Source African Press Agency

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