Human rights advocates and religious leaders are using a conference in the Senegalese capital Dakar to tell leaders of predominantly Muslim countries they are failing the people of Darfur.
– It is the OIC’s [Organisation of Islamic Conference] responsibility to say ‘enough is enough’ and to put pressure on the government of Sudan – which is a member state of the OIC – to end the killing in Darfur, Amir Osman, international advocacy director for the Washington-based group Save Darfur, told IRINnews.
– The international community must act whenever a government is killing its own citizens. Some of the Arab and Muslim leaders are hesitant to speak out because of their economic and political interests with Sudan, Osman said.
Islamic scholars and representatives of human rights and aid groups have met in Saly, Senegal, to finalise a declaration to be submitted to OIC heads of state – expected to include Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir – due to gather in Dakar on 12-14 March.
The declaration states: “It is absolutely necessary that the heads of state of the OIC take bold measures during the meeting in Dakar to respond to the humanitarian crises in Muslim communities around the world, and to collaborate with the wider international community.”
Alioun Tine, president of the human rights coalition RADDHO, said that Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade had agreed to present the declaration to the heads of state.
Kilde: www.irinnews.org
