Gulf News, Wednesday, Dec 18, 2019 | Rabi Al
Thani 21, 1441
Saudi King Salman highlights
importance of OIC ahead of rival Islamic summit
Cairo: Saudi King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz has
highlighted the role of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), ahead of
a mini-Muslim summit in Malaysia thought to be aimed at replacing the
Saudi-based Islamic bloc.
The Saudi monarch “has emphasised the importance of joint Islamic action through
the OIC to achieve unity of ranks in discussing all issues of concern for the
Islamic nation,” the official Saudi news agency reported.
The remark came in a telephone call that King Salman received Tuesday night from
the Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohammad, according to the agency.
The Malaysian premier has recently called for setting up an Islamic alliance to
address major Muslim problems and Islamophobia.
Some analysts see the envisaged coalition as aimed at replacing the OIC, a
57-member bloc headquartered in the Saudi city of Jeddah.
Leaders of of Indonesia, Turkey, Pakistan and Qatar have been invited to the
Malaysia summit.
Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan will not attend, according to media reports.