Violent clashes between local ethnic-Turkic Muslim Uighurs and the dominant Han Chinese community which started on July 5 in Urumqi, the capital city of the Xinjiang Autonomous Region, left 197 dead and several hundred wounded according to official Chinese numbers. Turkey and the OIC have condemned the incidents. Underlining the historically good relations between China and Muslim countries, İhsanoğlu noted in an interview with the Cihan news agency in Jeddah, where the OIC headquarters are based, that the incidents in Urumqi resulted in shock among Muslims, adding that the OIC has reflected this shock in its statements released in response to the incidents.
“We expect China to create an understanding for more respect to human rights in Urumqi and more protection of cultural and ethnic rights along with the heritage of cultural identity,” İhsanoğlu was quoted as saying on Monday.
İhsanoğlu said the bilateral relations between the Muslim world and China are beneficial for both sides. According to the OIC chief, China and many Muslim countries have vital political and economic ties and mutual investments and the fact that China is a permanent member of the UN Security Council makes China an important partner for the Muslim world.
“Since relations with China have been very good over the centuries, the events in Urumqi shocked us. Although similar incidents occurred in the past, there was nothing at this level, thus, Islamic countries have started to ask questions,” he said and noted that according to decisions made in OIC meetings, the OIC cannot remain aloof to the developments in Muslim communities in non-member countries.
He also stated that he wants to visit the region and emphasized that the Chinese government responded to the OIC with goodwill.
İhsanoğlu also touched upon the newly selected NATO head Anders Fogh Rasmussen's offer of cooperation with the OIC. “There are some theoretical possibilities. But in order to take serious steps in terms of institutional cooperation there should be proposals regarding the decision making mechanisms of NATO and the OIC” he said, adding that the spheres of interest of NATO and the OIC do not seem to close to each other. “Taking the current political realities into account, we appreciated the approaches of goodwill of two institutions,” İhsanoğlu stated.
