Islamic bloc calls for art, media productions to combat Islamophobia

By Ahmed Asmar

ANKARA (AA) – The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has called on member states to sponsor art and media productions with a view to combating Islamophobia and insults against religious symbols.

The move aims “to clarify and strengthen the tolerant principles of Islam calling for coexistence, tolerance and respect for the other and renouncing violence, intolerance and hatred,” Information Department Director Wajdi Ali Sindi told an emergency meeting of the OIC States Broadcasting Union (OSBU).

The meeting discussed mechanisms of confronting desecration of religious sanctities in the media in the wake of last week’s burning of Islam’s holy book, the Quran, in Sweden.

Sindi said the OIC is working with its partners “to enhance understanding of the responsible use of freedom of expression in the media, and to establish national mechanisms to hold accountable the media that continue to feed hate speech and intolerance, and implementing the OIC media strategy to combat Islamophobia.”

Last week, a person identified as Salwan Momika burned a copy of the Quran under police protection in front of Stockholm Mosque.

The criminal act triggered widespread condemnations across the Arab and Muslim countries amid calls for Sweden to put an end of such acts against Islamic symbols.