Head of the Turkish Parliament, Mehmet Ali Sahin, attended the 5th general meeting of parliament speakers of the Organization of Islamic Conference in Uganda. Sahin spoke during the General Assembly where he evaluated the main issues on the agenda. Sahin said that the meetings of the Organization of Islamic Conference allowed for the integration of the member countries which also led to the integration of their peoples.
Sahin stated that the Middle East Process and the Palestinian issue, the situation in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Yemen and the oppression that the Muslim peoples faced in Cyprus, Western Trachea, Caucasus and other parts of the world and also the Islamophobia in the West were issues of concern. He said that the prohibition of minarets in Switzerland was proof that Islamophobia which was an unjust and wrong discourse, would increase in Europe in the future. He emphasized that Turkey always reacted to attitudes exhibited against the religion of Islam in different platforms.
Sahin said that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict lay at the center of the problems in the Middle East. He stated that the Jewish settlement activities, the restrictions on the mobility of Palestinians and the construction of the Wall should be ended. He stated that Turkey did not keep silent and would not keep silent on what was going on in Gaza and would provide aid to the region.
Sahin stated that Turkey helped Afghanistan both militarily and civilly. He also said that Turkey followed the developments in Yemen and Africa closely and they were important issues in Turkey's foreign policy.
Source: habervaktim (Turkey), January 30, 2010
