NOTE FROM THE EXECUTIVE BOARD

Greetings delegates,

Welcome to Chirec MUN 2019! We are pleased to welcome you to this simulation of the Organization of
Islamic Cooperation The topics for this simulation are: Discussing the importance of multiculturalism in
the Islamic world and tackling the problem of islamophobia and Discussing the growing tensions in the
Middle East with special reference to Iran and USA

This study guide will provide you with the background information on both the topics. It will look at the
cultural, technical, and security implications involved in these agendas the recent developments and
what that means for the international community’s push towards finding solutions for both the agendas.

Before elaborating on the agenda items, we cannot underline enough the importance of conducting

your personal research upon the topic alongside the Study Guide at hand, which mainly serves the

purpose of showing you the direction towards which you should target your preparation from the

moment on and until the end of the conference. At the same time, though, we would like to

underline that we remain at your disposal at all times for any inquiries that may arise during your

preparation. From our side, we would also like to kindly ask you to show the appropriate respect to

all deadlines, as foundation of our cooperation.

Having said all that, we would like to conclude our brief introductory message in the exact same

way we began, namely by welcoming you to the OIC in the framework of Chirec MUN 2019, and

ensuring you that it will be an unforgettable experience for all of us!

We look forward to seeing you at the conference.

Tanmmay Rout - Chairperson.

Hisham Abdus Salam - Vice-chairperson.

 THE ORGANIZATION OF ISLAMIC COOPERATION – INTRODUCTION AND MANDATE

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation is an international organization founded in 1969, consisting of

57 Member States, with a collective population of over 1.8 billion as of 2015 with 53 countries being
Muslim-majority countries. The organisation has the motto “To safeguard the interests and ensure the
progress and well-being of Muslims” and states that it is "the collective voice of the Muslim world" and
works to "safeguard and protect the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting
international peace and harmony".

The OIC first met in Morocco in September 1969, a month after an arson attack inside the Al-Aqsa
Mosque that destroyed part of the roof. Reacting to the incident, representatives from 24 Muslim
countries met in the capital Rabat to establish a body that would promote cooperation across the
Muslim world. In March 1970, the first Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers was held in Jeddah, Saudi
Arabia, and plans for setting up a permanent secretariat for the OIC were established.

Issues relating to Palestine have been central to the OIC's agenda and summit discussions. The
organisation has continuously condemned what member states consider Israeli aggressions against the
Palestinians. Other issues that have also taken centre stage in OIC summits include the wars in Bosnia
and Iraq, a rise in the number of refugees from Muslim-majority countries such as Syria, as well as
Islamophobia and other security issues plaguing the Islamic World

According to its charter, the OIC aims to preserve Islamic values, safeguard and defend the national
sovereignty and independence of member states and to contribute to international peace and security.
While the organisation has been known for its cultural and social projects, its political influence has been
relatively limited.

Typically, in the past, the OIC has been effective in promoting cultural and educational projects across
the Muslim world However, its political capabilities remain unclear. While the OIC has relative political
weight, its rhetoric does not always translate into action on the ground. With 57 member states the OIC
tends to carry relatively heavy political weight and impact. But how much change that makes on the
ground is not always clear. Adding to its political limitations is its inability to unify its stance on issues.

Like other international organisations, such as the UN General Assembly, the OIC is supposed to have a
unified voice but it does not because policies of the individual countries greatly differ. Most importantly,
the OIC doesn't have a unified voice because most of its member countries are not democracies. So,
while their populations may be in agreement over an issue they do not always represent the views of
their populations.

OIC decisions and resolutions are much like they are at UN General Assembly. Member states each get a
vote. Each member state can table a resolution and then others can vote on it or suggest tweaks. But
much like the GA, OIC resolutions aren't binding. They are just a declaration of the general feeling of the
leaders of the Islamic world.

The OIC holds an Islamic Summit once every three years. At the summit, heads of state discuss ways to
achieve the charter's objectives and make policy decisions that concern its member states. Meeting on a
more regular basis, the council of foreign ministers convenes annually to evaluate the implementation
of the organisation's policies and objectives. The general secretariat, the OIC's executive body, is
responsible for implementing those decisions.