RIYADH: In a major move to fight hostilities and prejudices toward Muslims and Islam globally, the Jeddah-based Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has joined forces with three other organizations to hold a regional forum in Dakar on Monday.
The two-day forum on Islamophobia will map out a comprehensive strategy to address intense spikes in anti-Muslim sentiments and hate crimes.
“There will be sessions to present the media strategy to address the phenomenon of Islamophobia and discuss the training curriculum for journalists and media professionals to deal with stereotypes about Islam and Muslims in the Western media prepared by the Rabat-based Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO),” said an SPA report on Saturday.
ISESCO has teamed up with the OIC standing committee on information and cultural affairs, and the Senegalese National Assembly to organize the forum, said the report.
“Muslims are facing serious challenges because of the growing hostility, but they are also enthusiastically ready to confront them,” said Mohammed Solaiman Al-Othman of King Saud University, commenting on the forum.
Asked about the growing trend in Islamophobia globally, and how it can be addressed, Al-Othman said that “a large number of Muslims, not only in the Western countries, but also in other parts of the world are experiencing discrimination … Muslims in the US and the West continue to be the most negatively rated religious group … Hence, there is a need to set up more and more advocacy groups to fight Islamophobia,” he added.
He said that the OIC and many other national and regional organizations of the Arab world have been “working and lobbying for the protection of Muslims and the cessation of religious and racial profiling.”
The OIC also organized a similar forum in London in July this year. The two-day event concluded with recommendations and possible projects for implementation.
In April 2017, the OIC held yet another workshop and meeting in Istanbul to discuss the OIC Islamophobia Observatory’s works in dealing with the rise of anti-Muslim sentiments in the West. The Istanbul forum, while seeking radical and real solutions for Islamophobia, called on all global organizations, including UN agencies, to fight anti-Muslim racism, hostilities, and unacceptable discourses about Islam and Muslims.
According to the latest OIC Islamophobia Observatory report, “the growing trend of Islamophobia has not subsided in any tangible way … Muslims have been terrorized and discriminated against. Islamic sacred symbols have been insulted. People with Islamic attire were targeted with hatred. Women with hijabs were abused on streets and in public spaces. Certain governments outlawed Islamic attire or restricted Muslims from having prayer facilities.”
OIC, ISESCO to hold forum in Dakar to fight Islamophobia
OIC, ISESCO to hold forum in Dakar to fight Islamophobia
Najran’s camels are embedded in local culture and traditions
- Several distinct camel breeds are found in the region
- Animals permeate Arab consciousness, says expert
RIYADH: In Najran, camels are not only a vital livestock resource but also a cornerstone of local identity and tradition.
According to Hadi Benyan Al-Amer, head of Najran’s Camel Association, the region has several distinct camel breeds.
Principal among them is the Awarik, an ancient Arabian lineage linked to territories where arak trees flourish, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.
These light-colored, sparsely-haired camels possess remarkable resilience, and are prevalent across southern Arabia.
The Majahim are characterized by dark hues spanning black to brown, and excel in both milk yield and endurance.
The Asayil are prized for their sleek, lean physiques, and dominate in speed-based competitions.
Al-Amer said traditional water sources known as Odood, or traditional water wells and artesian wells, have sustained herders navigating the Empty Quarter’s grazing lands for generations.
These permanent water points, equipped with dedicated drinking basins for camels, showcase the animals’ extraordinary environmental resilience.
Among the principal wells accessible from Najran are Al-Minkhali, Abu Shadid, Hamra Nathil, Tamani, Umm Al-Wahat, and Khujaima.
Countless additional wells dot the Empty Quarter and adjacent territories, forming the backbone of camel owners’ far-reaching pastoral networks.
Dr. Hind bint Dawood Al-Shuqair of Najran University’s Arabic Language Department explained how camels have permeated Arab consciousness through legends and stories spanning thousands of years.
Representing endurance, power, and grace, they have become inseparable from Arab cultural identity.
Archaeological evidence at Al-Ukhdood, Mount Al-Tharwa and Hima, preserves through carvings and ancient artwork the deep bond between people and camels, Al-Shuqair said.
She drew attention to Saudi Arabia’s substantial investment in camel heritage, exemplified by proclaiming 2024 as the Year of the Camel.
This designation emphasizes their importance to national prosperity and cultural heritage while backing global initiatives to promote awareness of camels as valuable economic and cultural assets.
The Kingdom further demonstrates its commitment to protecting the animals through the annual King Abdulaziz Festival, the SPA reported.
