Organization of Islamic Cooperation calls for respecting the rights of Muslims in Crimea

28 March 2014

In the framework of the recent developments in Ukraine, and particularly in Crimea, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is concerned about the security and well-being of the Muslim Crimean Tatar Community.

Any recurrence of the past suffering of the Crimean Tatars who were expelled from their homeland in Crimea in the 20th Century should not be allowed, the OIC said in a statement from March 25, 2014

It is of the utmost importance for the OIC that the right of citizenship, lives, religious and cultural heritage and property should be safeguarded

It is the firm belief of the OIC that in the 21th century, constructive dialogue, peaceful and good neighborly relations should be the norm for the members of the international community.

It bears reminding that earlier the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People called the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the biggest association of Muslim states, to use its authority and influence and promote seeking the ways of peaceful solution of the crisis in Ukraine.