Turkey urges Muslim world to combat Islamophobia

The Muslim world should combat stereotypes that equate Islam with terrorism, Turkey's President Abdullah Gul said Wednesday. Gul made the statement in Istanbul during a meeting of the Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation, a standing committee of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). "Islamophobia remains a critical problem which instigates unsubstantial prejudices against our glorious religion and Muslims, " he said. He accused groups of spreading negative propaganda and abusing Islamic values by conducting terrorist acts. Gul highlighted that poverty, lack of education and economic inequality feeds Islamophobia adding that the Muslim world needs to address these problems. Secretary General of OIC Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu echoed Gul's call for participation, stressing that the organization is considered internationally as a credible actor for promoting socio- economic development and contributing peace and security. He emphasized that the committee continually reviews the economic activities of and cooperation between member states, contributing to the development of the region. The Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation is one of the three standing committees of OIC which began in 1984. During their Istanbul meeting, members plan to discuss foreign investment in OIC member states while working-groups are set to handle new projects in trade, finance, transportation, communication, and tourism.