THE OIC`s criticism of the UN Security Council`s failure to help the people of Gaza does not hide the fact that the Muslim world itself has done nothing to come to the help of the Palestinian people. On Sunday, OIC`s Secretary Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu and Pakistan`s Foreign Minister Inamul Haq criticised the world body`s executive arm for failing to agree on a `presidential statement` that could help alleviate the suffering of the Gazans following Israel`s blockade of the strip. The amazing point about the draft was that, if passed, it would have been a non-binding resolution. But even this resolution was not adopted because of what Mr Ekmeleddin called `politicising ...mainly by western countries`. Mr Haq, who is the current chairman of the OIC foreign ministers` executive committee, said the Israeli blockade was a violation of the Geneva Conventions and international human rights. In spite of this, he said, the UN council had failed to act to lessen the Palestinian people`s suffering.
The two office bearers of the OIC commended the Egyptian president for his role during the blockade. It is not clear what good President Mobarak precisely did. He let the Gazans purchase food, medicines and other essential items, but the mass crossing occurred because the desperate Gazans themselves blew up the Israeli-built wall. No Arab or Muslim government came to the Palestinians` help. This inaction thus symbolises the policies of OIC.

Formed as far back as 1969, the OIC is little better than a debating club. Even though it is the second largest grouping of countries — second only to the UN — the OIC has failed to evolve into a dynamic organisation that could address the problems facing the Muslim world, especially the territories still under occupation. It is true that the economic, military and scientific backwardness of the OIC countries militates against a powerful response to the challenges facing it, but where the OIC`s failure is glaring is in the realm of economic, cultural and scientific cooperation. There is no dearth of resolutions and committees on a host of issues to ensure greater cooperation among OIC members, but there has been no follow-up. To give one example the Muslims have long complained that the international media is biased against the Islamic world because it is in non-Muslim hands. But the OIC members themselves have done precious little to counter the propaganda against the Muslim world, especially in the wake of 9/11. This failure is lamentable, because the OIC has enormous assets that include oil, a huge landmass strategically located, a big population, and considerable scientific talents. Before criticising others, OIC leaders should first do some soul searching.