18 June 2014, Jeddah; "Islamic principles and values of justice and equality of all humans, and the right of citizens in having a say and a stake in their governments is well in line with modern democratic values" says Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Dunya Maumoon. Speaking at the 41st session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Minister urged the OIC to be united in its support for democratic change around the world and in Islamic societies. She cited Maldives as an example of a modern democratic country that adhered to Islamic values. The Foreign Minister said that the Maldives was an emerging democracy that is striving to advance its democratic institutions, as well as cherish the values of Islam.
On the issue of violence against women and girls, the Foreign Minister noted that "Just a month back we heard the news of the nearly 200 kidnapped girls by Boko Haram in Nigeria in shock and disbelief.These girls were punished for seeking to learn and to educate themselves.
The Minister spoke of the deep impact Islam had on the rights of women. "The pre-Quranic times were testing times for women…Islam liberated women", she argued, citing that Islam offered women explicit rights to inheritance, independent property rights, access to divorce and the right to testify in a court of law. Islam, she said, also prohibited violence against women and girls. She urged the OIC, as the prime organisation for the cultivation and projection of true Islamic values around the globe, to work to protect, safeguard and guarantee the rights of Muslim women the world over.
Minister Dunya noted "Islam emphasises the equal rights and responsibilities of men and women"
The Minister also urged the Council of Foreign Ministers to make a thorough self-assessment to examine why Islam is increasingly being associated with intolerance, terrorism, violence and backwardness. The chaos and the upheaval the Islamic world is witnessing, she argued, are caused by the inability to exercise true Islamic ideals. While condemning Islamophobia she noted that it is easy for us to blame the West and Western media.She noted that we as Muslim societies need to make a self-assessment why Islam was being tarnished by an image linked to terrorism. Foreign Minister Dunya noted the need to change the association of Islam with intolerance, terrorism, violence and backwardness.
Finishing her address the Minister noted that "Muslims were once the pioneers of science and technology. Today, we have to accept the reality that Muslim societies are on the brink of falling into an abyss for creativity. It is beyond imagination, or within the realm of belief, to think that we can overcome these dark times? Let us recommit ourselves to work together to overcome our challenges. United and strong we can once again become the standard bearers of tolerance and innovation".
ENDS.