UNITED NATIONS - Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu has asked the United Nations to assume a more active role in eradication of tension between the West and the Islamic world.
In an exclusive interview with the A.A. correspondent, Prof. Ihsanoglu said he met around 60 heads of state and government including Turkish Prime Minister Recep tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Ali Babacan within the scope of his meetings in New York where he came to attend U.N. General Assembly sessions.
Ihsanoglu said cartoon crisis and dialogue between religions were taken up during a coordination meeting of foreign ministers of OIC member countries in the U.N.
Ihsanoglu underlined that freedom of expression and press should never be used in an insulting way and violating the freedom of belief of others, "OIC is extremely sensitive on this matter and assumed an extremely serious position against the denigration of Islam."
"OIC member countries felt uneasy over the cartoons published in Denmark two years ago and those published in Sweden a few months ago. We want U.N. to assume a more active role in this respect and Western people to be more careful," he added.
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Ihsanoglu said within the framework of OIC, Islamic countries have made several steps in removal of the inhumane embargo imposed on Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), "TRNC government started to open representations in many Islamic countries and make trade. Ferryboat voyages started with Syria," remarked Ihsanoglu.
Ihsanoglu, who took the floor at a meeting during the U.N. General Assembly, stated that Islam religion was denigrated and attacked and Muslims were exposed to cruelty and discrimination.
OIC SG indicated that Islamophobia was on the rise in Europe, indicating that a new discrimination appeared in the world based on hatred against Islam.
Ihsanoglu underscored that a reconciliation in historical sense should be reached between Islam and Christianity.