Organisation of Islamic Cooperation

Albanian athletes will be participating for the first time in this year's Islamic Solidarity Games, which take place Baku in Azerbaijan in May.

The Saudi secretary-general of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) resigned on Oct. 31 for health reasons, according to a statement from the organization.

Iyad Madani, 70, had held the post since 2014. A statement by the IOC said Saudi Arabia had nominated Yusuf al-Othaimeen, a former minister of social affairs, as his replacement, Reuters reported. 

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Oct. 19 listed the movement of U.S.-based Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen, believed to be behind Turkey's July 15 coup attempt, as a terrorist organization, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu has said.

Three wanted members of the Gülen movement, believed to be behind Turkey's July 15 coup attempt, were deported from Malaysia on Oct. 13, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on Oct. 14.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of a hospital in Antalya, Çavuşoğlu said Malaysia sent back to Turkey three members of the group who took refuge in the country. 

Youth and Sports Minister Akif Çağatay Kılıç said on Oct. 6 that members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) should work together to fight Islamophobia.

"As OIC members, it is our duty to fight such defamation. Our noble religion, Islam, can in no way be mentioned alongside terrorism," Kılıç said at the third OIC Youth and Sports Ministers Conference in Istanbul. 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on Oct. 2 urged Islamic nations to unite in solidarity against a newly passed bill in the U.S. that allows families of the victims of the 9/11 attacks to sue Saudi Arabia for their losses. 
In an interview with the Saudi Arabia-based TV station Rotana, Erdoğan said "despicable developments" were being formed against the Islamic world.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry called on Sept. 23 for U.S. President Barack Obama to prevent the "Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act" from becoming law, saying it contradicts international law and the principles of the U.N. Charter, particularly regarding the sovereignty and equality of states.

In two separate speeches delivered on April 28, Turkish President Tayyip Erdo?an strongly criticized the Islamic world for failure in a number of areas.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an has slammed the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League for not being able to stand together in Muslim unity. 

Citing racism as a major threat facing Islam, Erdo?an said he was saddened by people using the words "Turk" and "Arab."

At the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in Istanbul, it was proposed that a "European Muslims group" should be formed. There is an Asia group, an Arab group and an Africa group in the OIC, so why should there not be a Europe group? 

Of course, when one says "Islam" and "Europe," colossal issues and hopes come to mind.