ISLAMABAD: The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will bring together the information ministers of its member countries for a two-day conference in Istanbul on Friday to discuss the issue of Islamophobia and see how to strengthen the media across the Muslim world, the Turkish envoy to Pakistan said on Wednesday.
Speaking to Arab News on the sidelines of a media event about the recent floods in the country, Ambassador Mehmet Paçacı said the upcoming conference would be an opportunity for Muslim states to get together and devise a game plan to address the issue.
“This information ministers’ conference hosted by Türkiye is a good opportunity for the member states to chalk out a strategy to combat disinformation and Islamophobia collectively,” told Arab News.
“Through this conference, we expect that a platform will be established to raise the consciousness regarding the issue and to analyze the causes of rising Islamophobia in the West,” he added.
The vice president of the Turkish disaster management authority, Onder Bozkurt, addresses a media briefing in Islamabad, Pakistan, on October 19, 2022. (AN Photo)
Paçacı said Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and other Arab countries had also expressed concern over rising hatred toward Muslims in the West, adding all OIC countries should now work together to deal with the problem by using the inter-governmental forum to amplify their voice.
The Turkish envoy said Pakistan and his country had already joined hands to deal with Islamophobia.
“There was a proposed project to establish a television channel together with Pakistan, Türkiye and Malaysia to combat Islamophobia and hatred toward Muslims,” he said. “It is high time the project was implemented.”
