UNITED NATIONS, March 4: The Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) on Monday expressed concern over the negative political and media campaign in certain western nations targeting Muslims and Islam.

In a statement, it urged the UN secretary-general to call upon the governments of member states which allowed publication of blasphemous cartoons and other anti-Islam material “to take all possible legal and administrative measures to prevent the repetition or continuation of these deliberate offensive acts, which impinge greatly on the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion of the followers of Islam”.

It asked the UN chief to publicly express his unequivocal opposition to all ‘acts of Islamophobia’.

“The OIC group believes that lack of action to prevent the reprinting of the blasphemous caricatures and indifference in airing the inflammatory documentary against the Holy Quran, will be perceived as manifestation of insincerity towards the principles and objectives of various efforts within the UN system aiming at promoting understanding and respect among cultures and civilisations,” the statement added.