OIC Sec-Gen Calls For Calm And Restraint In Afghanistan

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 27 (Bernama) -- The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) called for calm and restraint in Afghanistan as demonstrators took to the streets protesting the burning of copies of the holy Quran at a US air base in Bagram, north of Kabul, recently. OIC Secretary-general, Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu appealed to the people in Afghanistan and elsewhere for calm and restraint from violence in their protest against the act, the OIC said in a statement Monday. "The violence and bloodshed were hurting the people of Afghanistan and causing loss of innocent lives," he said. On Feb 22, Ihsanoglu, in a statement, denounced the incident and called on the responsible authorities to ensure a thorough investigation so that immediate action could be taken against those involved. Malaysia also denounced the act, with Foreign Minister Anifah Aman stating that the irresponsible and insensitive act had unnecessarily triggered a wave of outrage in Afghanistan, as well as in other parts of the world, including Malaysia. He had said in a statement Friday that the irresponsible act had only hampered the efforts by the international community to restore peace and stability in Afghanistan. Reports said Barack Obama had sent a letter to Afghan president Hamid Karzai apologising for the unintentional burning of copies of the Quran. The incident sparked protests and demonstrations in other Muslim nations, including Malaysia and Pakistan. -- BERNAMA