By IINA
Jeddah : The Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) General Secretariat has finalized preparations to organize a symposium on Muslim minorities in South and East Asia in cooperation with Korea Muslim Federation in Seoul on July 4 – 6 2008. The three-day event will be held under the patronage of OIC Secretary General Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, according to an OIC statement. The symposium, first of its kind to be held in Asia, has received support by the Korean government and some Muslim organizations. The symposium, with the theme “Muslim Minority in South and East Asia – Challenges and Prospects in Multicultural Society”, attempts to discuss conditions of Muslim communities and minorities in South and East Asia. It also looks into ways and means of supporting Muslim communities and minorities to overcome political, economic, cultural, social and environmental challenges.
The symposium will be segmented into five sessions to address specific issues pertinent to Muslim communities and minorities namely: Poverty, discrimination, political conflicts, dialogue among religions, majority-minority relations in Asia, tolerance and multiculturalism in Islam, as well as new methodologies for Daawa in the 21st century in Asia. The OIC hops that this gathering of non-governmental representatives of Muslim communities and minorities from non OIC Member States in South and East Asia will construct a concrete bridge for future cooperation with the rest of the Muslim world.