Organization of Islamic Co-operation Sets Up Rights Commission

Nasiru L. Abubakar
4 July 2011

The Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC), formerly the Organization of the Islamic Conference, has adopted a resolution to establish the independent Permanent Human Rights Commission, whose headquarters will be hosted temporarily at the OIC General Secretariat in Jeddah.

There were requests from Saudi Arabia and Iran to host the Rights Commission, but the OIC said a final decision on the issue would be taken at a later date.

OIC Secretary General, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, however, stressed that the Commission will not be a substitute for international human rights organizations, pointing out that the Commission is an official body within the OIC Charter, which confirms the commitment of the OIC Member States to the United Nations' Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other instruments of international law abided by the OIC Member States.

Meanwhile, the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation has welcomed the initiative of the King of Bahrain on establishing an independent international commission to investigate the events in Bahrain

In a statement issued at the weekend, the OIC hailed His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa for agreeing to the establishment of an independent commission comprising international legal experts to investigate the events that took place in Bahrain recently. Al Khalifa made the pledge in his speech last Wednesday.

The OIC also expressed satisfaction at the start of the national dialogue with the opposition on the invitation of the Bahraini monarch, wishing that the round of dialogue will be an opportunity for everyone to agree on strengthening the reform process in Bahrain.

Source: allAfrica.
Link: http://allafrica.com/stories/201107041097.html.