Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia is to host the first meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation`s (OIC) Permanent and Independent Human Rights Commission next February 20-24 in Jakarta, spokesman to Foreign Affairs Ministry Michael Tene said here on Friday.

"The first meeting will likely discuss internal issues, such as the commission`s system of work and future priorities," he added.

The OIC`s Permanent and Independent Human Rights Commission was established last June 28-29, 2011 during the 38th OIC Foreign Ministers Conference in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Members of the commission are Wael Attiya (Egypt), Mohammed Raisouni (Morocco), Saleh bin Mohammed al-Khatlan (Saudi Arabia), Mahmoud al-Aker (Palestine), Elham Ibrahim Ahmed Mohamed (Sudan), Adel Issa Al-Mahry (UAE), Ousman Diao Balde (Guinea), Mohamed Kawu Ibrahim (Nigeria), Med. S.K. Kaggwa (Uganda), Mohammed Lamine Timbo (Sierra Leone) and Mohammad al-Bashir Ibrahim (Chad).

Other members are Oumar Abiu Abba (Cameroon), Siti Ruhaini Dzuhayatin (Indonesia), Raihana Abdullah (Malaysia), Abdul Wahab (Pakistan), Zuhtu Arslan (Turkey), Mostafa Alaei (Iran) and Asila Wardak (Afghanistan).

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), formerly called the Organization of the Islamic Conference, is the second largest inter-governmental organization after the United Nations, and has members from 57 states spread across four continents.

The Organization is the collective voice of the Muslim world, safeguarding and protecting the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony among the various peoples of the world.

The Organization was established based upon a decision at the historical summit which took place in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco, on 12th Rajab 1389 Hijra (25 September 1969) following an act of criminal arson at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Jerusalem.

Over the last 40 years, the membership has grown from its 25 founding members to 57 states. The Organization has the singular honor to galvanize the Ummah into a unified body and has actively represented Muslims by espousing all causes close to the hearts of over 1.5 billion Muslims throughout the world.

The Organization also has consultative and cooperative relations with the UN and other inter-governmental organizations to protect the vital interests of Muslims and to work for the settlement of conflicts and disputes involving Member States.

In safeguarding the true values of Islam and Muslims, the organization has taken various steps to remove misperceptions and has strongly advocated elimination of discrimination against Muslims in all forms and manifestations. (*)

Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
Copyright © ANTARA 2012