Organization of Islamic Cooperation(OIC):

The OIC is the second largest intergovernmental organization after the United Nations with a membership of 57 states.
It is the collective voice of the Muslim world.
It endeavors to safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony among various people of the world.
The Organization of the Islamic Conference was established by the First Islamic Summit Conference held in Morocco in September 1969, to marshal the Islamic world after an act of arson at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem by a 28-year-old Australian in 1969.
Headquarters: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The OIC has consultative and cooperative relations with the UN and other intergovernmental organizations to protect the interest of Muslims, and settle conflicts and disputes involving member states,among them being the territorial conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the status of Jammu & Kashmir.
The organization adheres to a charter that lays out its objectives, principles and operating mechanism.
The present charter was adopted in March 2008 at Dakar in Senegal. It enshrines that all members be guided and inspired by the noble Islamic teachings and values alongside committing themselves to the purposes and principles of the UNcharter.
OIC carves out a 10 year Programme of Action (PoA). Last instituted for the decade ending 2025, the PoA calls for measures to combat all aspects of terrorism globally.

Functioning of OIC:

The Islamic Summit, composed of Kings and heads of state, is the supreme authority of the organization.
Convening every two years, it deliberates, takes policy decisions,provides guidance on issues relevant to the organization and considers issues of concern to the member states.
The Council of Foreign Ministers is the chief decision making body and meets annually to decide on how to implement the OIC general policies.
In addition, this council also appoints, for a period of five years, the Secretary General, who is the chief administrative officer of the grouping.
The Secretary General follows up on implementation of the decisions, directs attention to competent organs’ specific issues of concern, creates a channel for coordination among the varied organs and submits annual reports on the work undertaken.
UN members with a Muslim majority can join the organisation.
The membership is to be ratified with full consensus at the OIC’s Council of Foreign Ministers. The same provisions apply for acquiring an observer status.
All decision making in the forum requires a quorum defined by the presence of two thirds of the member states and complete consensus.
In case a consensus cannot be reached, decisions shall be made by a two thirds majority of members present and voting.
The OIC is financed by the member states proportionate to their national incomes.
The OIC also has standing committees for cooperation on:

Nature of India’s relationship with OIC:

Even though the country has good relations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia, its membership and engagement has been constantly challenged by Pakistan.
In 1969, Pakistan’s opposition to Indian Participation at the first OIC Plenary resulted in the Indian delegation being turned back from the venue at the last minute.
About 50 years later, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj addressed the OIC Plenary of Foreign Ministers in Abu Dhabi as guest of honour.
In 2018, Bangladesh had proposed India be given the observer status at the OIC considering its sizeable Muslim population –a move which received support from Turkey but was opposed by Pakistan.

Published by Atulkumargupta