Islamic Organization Condemns Offensive Cartoons in France
The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, condemned the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad today in France.
The release of these cartoons will exacerbate the current agitation and violence created by the film “Innocence of Muslims”, produced in the U.S, said the leader.
The cartoons published by the French weekly Charlie Hebdo were deemed insulting by the OIC official, who called for attention to the concerns of the international community against incitement and intolerance.
Ihsanoglu urged unity of religious and political leaders against radical and fanatical elements trying to destabilize peace and global security.
“It is time to take serious note of the dangerous implications of hate speech and provocative publications that take refuge in the excuse of freedom of expression,” the official stressed in a statement released at UN headquarters in New York.
He also insisted that it is a deliberate, reasoned and systematic abuse of that freedom, which threatens regional and global peace, security and stability.
He also urged Muslims of the world to hold fast in times of trial and demanded that the voice of reason from all faiths be raised against the despicable hatemongering campaign.
The OCI, composed pf 57 countries from Asia, Africa and Europe, has observer status at the UN and announced yesterday that a meeting of Islamic foreign ministers will be held next week in New York to discuss the impact of the “Innocence of Muslims”.
China Promises More Tech Cooperation to Developing Countries
China’s President Hu Jintao promised on Wednesday to increase cooperation with other developing countries on science and technology, during a meeting of academics in the northern harbor city of Tianjin.
“We are on the eve of a new scientific and technical revolution and developing countries must focus on innovation, strategic planning, promotion of talents and international cooperation,” noted Hu, quoted by Xinhua news agency.
China’s aim to strengthen scientific and technical cooperation with undeveloped countries will be accomplished through additional granting of government scholarships and the promotion of increased enrollment for students from other countries in China’s science academies, Hu said.
The leader also stated that China will gradually add more state-of-the-art projects to their foreign aid packages and will participate in the construction of research facilities, platforms for the development of technology and research centers in other countries.
Italian Court Upholds CIA Rendition Sentences
Italy’s highest appeals court upheld on Wednesday the convictions against 23 CIA agents involved in kidnapping a terror suspect in 2003, Corriere della Sera reported.
The agents were sentenced for taking part in the extraordinary rendition of Abu Omar, the imam at a mosque in Milan, which saw him transferred to a prison in Egypt where Omar claims he was tortured.
At the end of 2010, an Italian court convicted the 23 men in absentia, sentencing them to nine years in prison.
Prosecutors in Milan had sought the extradition of all the suspects from the United States in July 2006, but the State Department rejected the request.
The convicted agents include the CIA station chief in Milan, Robert Seldon Lady.
Convictions against two Italian intelligence agents, Nicolo Pollari and Marco Mancini, were subsequently overturned on national security grounds.