ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s information minister Marriyum Aurangzeb urged the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on Saturday to protect the rights of Muslim minorities in different parts of the world by playing a more proactive role on the world stage and speaking up against the violations of civil and constitutional liberties. 

The Pakistani minister raised the issue while addressing the 12th session of the OIC Conference of Information Ministers which began in Istanbul after Saudi Arabia handed over the chairmanship to Turkey during its opening session. 

She maintained it was important for all OIC member states to join hands and combat rising Islamophobia across the world. 

“The abhorrent phenomenon of Islamophobia is not abating,” Aurangzeb was quoted as saying by the Associated Press of Pakistan news agency. “In our region – South Asia – hate speech and hate crimes against Muslims remain a source of increasing concern. Despite our efforts to the contrary, there has been a constant rise manifested in mob lynching, pre-planned communal riots, and negative portrayal in electronic and social media in India.” 

She said the OIC represented the collective aspirations of the global Muslim community, adding it should use its “full political and economic weight and clout” to protect the rights of Muslims minorities in the world. 

The minister maintained the OIC should capitalize on the momentum after the United Nation General Assembly designated March 15 as International Day to Combat Islamophobia. 

Aurangzeb also said that Muslim countries should look within and deal with trends which were feeding misperceptions about Islam and their societies. 

“More democracy, more public participation, more inclusivity and focus on freedom of speech that is culturally sensitive and internationally projectable should be our goal to tackle the motivated misrepresentation,” she noted. 

Earlier, OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha warned about an upsurge in terrorism and extremist discourses in some OIC societies. 

He said that media institutions and outlets should promote informed and persuasive discourse regarding Islam and spread news related to economic, tourism and cultural projects that inspired hope and optimism, instead of disseminating negative news stories.