Break-away KL Summit: Divided we stand!

The OIC says the KL Summit meeting in Malaysia of some Muslim nations runs against the interests of the Islamic community.

The head of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on Wednesday laments the decision by the few countries to ignore Muslim unity.

The four-day summit got underway in Kuala Lumpur, but several countries including Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Pakistan are not attending.

The event has faced criticism for being organized outside of the auspices of the OIC.

The OIC is the world’s second-largest inter-governmental organization after the United Nations. Many regard it as the collective voice of the Muslim world.

OIC Secretary-General Yousef Al-Othaimeen says convening meetings outside the aegis of the organization would splinter Islamic solidarity.

PROGRESS IN CHAOS?

Any weakening of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation is a weakening of Islam and Muslims.

Observers see the OIC as sluggish while the Muslim world sinks further into chaos. Malaysia and its peers think this is the way to move forward.

That is to divide the Muslim nations on the global stage and take a step back. Maybe they think this will make them jump further, faster?

The OIC is right, however, that the world is witnessing multiple conflicts. Nevertheless, it offers no solution, including the end of wars in the Muslim world.

On Tuesday, King Salman spoke with Malaysia’s Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and stressed the importance of joint Islamic action through the OIC.

At a dinner to open the event on Wednesday, Mahathir says the summit would aim to “do something” to improve the lives of Muslims and overcome Islamophobia.

A difficult task to accomplish because the KL Summit starts with divisions and accusations of conspiracies. Yet, perhaps this is the aim of the KL Summit, that is to create chaos?