HUDA PAR Chairman İshak Sağlam pointed out that the Organization of Islamic Cooperation could not find a solution to the problems in the Islamic world and stated that the organization should be updated as a "political, military and economic power".

Noting that the organization could not be gathered even when Islamic countries were experiencing major problems, he said: " Today, the Islamic Ummah needs an Islamic Cooperation Organization that will show an effective presence in line with the purpose of its existence."

In his statement about the foreign agenda, he also included views on the shame walls built for refugees in Europe and the protests in Lebanon and Iraq.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (IOC)

Referring to the establishment phase of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, he said: " The burning of Masjid Al-Aqsa, the first Qiblah of Muslims and the third most important temple of the Islamic world, by a zionist Jew on 21 August 1969, caused an outrage in the whole Islamic world. Due to this incident, the 'Organization of Islamic Conference' was established by a decision taken at the conference held for the first time in Rabat on 22-25 September 1969. The organization was renamed as ‘Organization of Islamic Cooperation’ (OIC) at the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers (DBK) in Astana on 28-30 June 2011."

"The Organization of Islamic Cooperation has not found solutions to the problems of the Islamic Ummah"

Sağlam said:" The Organization of Islamic Cooperation, which has 57 member states and is the second largest power in the world economically, geographically and by population, has much to contribute to the Islamic Ummah and to the world. The OIC, whose aim is to ‘strengthen cooperation and solidarity among the Member States and protect the rights and interests of the Islamic world’, has not been able to show a presence in the face of Islamic World's problems to this day. After 50 years, Jerusalem is still under occupation. Masjid Al-Aqsa is being demolished gradually by the Zionists while the occupation of the Palestinian territories is expanding every day.

The OIC, unable to provide unity and solidarity among the Member States, was often unable to gather and find solutions to the problems of the Islamic Ummah, even when blood and tears were flowing all over the Islamic geography, exploitation and chaos were heading towards destroying our values, and even when the countries were being destroyed."

Underlining that the OIC needs to be updated again, Sağlam said: Today, the Islamic Ummah strongly needs the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to show an effective presence in accordance with the purpose of its foundation. Ethnic, sectarian and political conflicts between Islamic countries should be overcome as soon as possible and the structure of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation should be updated to form a political, military and economic power in line with its objectives. Unless this is done, conflicts, internal turmoil, occupation and chaos will continue to devour all the values of the

"Walls of shame built for refugees"

Referring to the walls of shame built for refugees in Europe, he said:" the Dutch-based Transatlantic Institute revealed that after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, thousands of kilometers of walls were built in Europe to curb the migration of displaced persons. On the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, which is described as a wall of shame, the walls built by European countries to prevent refugees are a shameful structure for Europe. These walls of shame, which are 6 times longer than the Berlin Wall, are important for demonstrating European countries' understanding of human rights

"In the last 5 years, the Mediterranean has almost turned into a migrant cemetery."

On European countries' policies towards refugees, Sağlam said: " Western countries, which politically and economically exploit many parts of the world, are leaving migrants who have been forced to leave their countries due to war and hunger to die. Especially in the last 5 years, the Mediterranean has almost turned into a migrant cemetery. Some European countries have even imposed criminal sanctions on those who save migrants from death. Western countries, which claim to advocate human rights, freedom and democracy around the world, are actually the killers of thousands of migrants by taking away their right to life. Refugee camps dominated by poor living conditions, political rhetoric and strategies fueling anti-immigrant sentiment have showed Western countries' true color. Those who build the prosperity and stability of their own communities at expense of other nations' welfare can never be models to the world."

Protests in Lebanon and Iraq

Stressing that the protests, which began in Lebanon and Iraq on the grounds of corruption, poverty and lack of public services, had been turned into violent acts, Sağlam said: "More than 300 people have died in the demonstrations that began in Iraq since October 1. In Lebanon, where religious and sectarian diversity prevails, clashes have resulted in curfew. The diversity in Iraqi and Lebanese societies makes the process quite dangerous. Regional stability has been weakened since the Arab Spring began and many regional countries have been plunged into turmoil and internal conflict.

The civil war in Syria and Libya is affecting the entire region in a negative way, deepening the polarization. In this respect, the protests that begin with justifiable demands should not be allowed to turn into acts of violence.

Sağlam concluded as follows:" The political authorities in Iraq and Lebanon must ensure that the system of governance is renewed according to the legitimate social demands and guarantee that the just demands will be met. Otherwise, the demonstrations will be provoked by external forces and will be transformed into a civil war. Organizations and opinion leaders who lead the protests should also strive to maintain the peaceful framework during the protests. Otherwise, it will become more and more difficult to avoid the consequence that would lead to national and regional catastrophe.

ILKHA