Resolution No. 32/7-P(IS) on the Problem of Refugees in the Muslim World

The Seventh Islamic Summit Conference (Session of Fraternity and Revival), held in Casablanca, Kingdom of Morocco, from 11 to 13 Rajab, 1415H (13-15 December, 1994),

Recalling Resolution 34/21-P adopted by the Twenty-first Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers on the problem of Refugees;

Deeply concerned over the plight of refugees in many parts of the world, most of whom are members of the Islamic community;

Reaffirming the solidarity of Member States with the countries providing asylum to the refugees, and thus assuming immense political, economic and social burdens, in a spirit of Islamic brotherhood and in accordance with the principles of the Charter of the Organization of the Islamic Conference;

Convinced that solidarity is dictated by the principles of brotherhood and the defence of human rights and human dignity, which are deep-rooted in the Islamic heritage and traditions;

Recalling the mandate of the UNHCR in providing protection and adequate care and maintenance to refugees;

Noting with deep concern the declining levels of international assistance extended to the countries of asylum to help them to continue providing assistance to refugees;

Fully convinced that the lasting solution of the refugee problem consists in providing favourable conditions for their return to their homelands in safety and dignity;

Having considered the Report of the Secretary General on the subject (Document No.ICFM/22-94/PIL/ D.24);

1. Notes with satisfaction the ongoing efforts of the Secretary General to further enhance the capacity of the OIC to provide humanitarian assistance to the refugees in cooperation with the UNHCR.

2. Expresses its appreciation to Member States, donor countries, the UNHCR, the U.N. specialized agencies, and other humanitarian institutions for the valuable assistance they extend to refugees in Islamic countries.

3. Expresses also its deep appreciation to countries of asylum for their generous assistance to refugees irrespective of their critical economic situation as well as presence of large number of displaced persons.

4. Reaffirms its deep concern for the security, stability and infrastructure of those Muslim countries whose economic and social development is seriously affected by the presence of millions of refugees.

5. Calls on Member States, to coordinate their action at international level with a view to determining the main reasons behind the exodus of refugees to Islamic and other countries and strive, in cooperation with the UNHCR, to enable those refugees to return to their homes whenever circumstances permit.

6. Urges Member States and the Islamic Development Bank to increase their assistance to the Islamic countries sheltering refugees given the economic and social difficulties caused by the presence of those refugees.

7. Calls on Member States to cooperate with the UNHCR to end the downward trend of assistance to refugees and to secure additional resources to alleviate the suffering of those refugees in Islamic countries.

8. Urges non-Member States to create better conditions for their Muslim communities, so that they are not forced to escape or are driven out as refugees because of religious, ethnic or racial oppression.

9. Condemns all acts of repression against the refugees including armed attacks on their camps and pressures on the countries sheltering them.

10. Urges the Secretary General to continue to closely liase with the countries of asylum and cooperate and coordinate with the UNHCR with a view to intensifying the efforts of the Organization of the Islamic Conference for the alleviation of the plight of the refugees in the Muslim World and to report thereon to the Twenty-Third Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers.