OIC chief: Extremist slogans not related to Islam

Tehran, Dec 3, IRNA – Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Iyad Madani said here on Wednesday the Islamic world should confront extremist ideologies as their slogans are by no means related to Islam. The OIC chief made the remarks in his address to the inaugural session of the 10th meeting of the Islamic Conference of Information Ministers. Madani said the ICIM is being held while the Islamic Ummah is facing major challenges which have threatened its stability, security and identity. Although the acts and slogans of extremists are made and used in the name of Islam, they are not related to the divine religion at all and have only given a distorted portray of Islam, Madani said. He added performance of the extremist groups only adds fuel to Islamophobia. Madani urged media of the Islamic world to consistently and professionally monitor and disclose the acts of extremist groups for the world public opinion. Calling for identifying those involved in distortion of the image of Islam, the OIC chief urged media of the Islamic world to fight against extremism. He also slammed certain Muslim media that back extremist groups, stressing no member of the OIC Secretariat has the right to support extremists. Madani noted that disputes among media of the Islamic states should not mount for political reasons. He said it was the duty of the Muslim media to fight against racism and apartheid-style policies of the Zionist regime regarding Palestine and al-Quds. Madani called for establishment of a troika ministerial committee of the information ministers to follow up implementation of the resolutions to be adopted by the ICIM./end