This item is available on the Militant Islam Monitor website, at http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/6091

Hamas Linked CAIR Hosts Farewell Reception For Outgoing Secretary General Of The OIC

October 15, 2013

CAIR Hosts Farewell Reception for Outgoing OIC Secretary General

(Washington, D.C., 10/14/2013) – On Friday, October 11, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) was honored to host a reception at its Capitol Hill headquarters for Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the outgoing secretary general of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

The OIC is the second largest intergovernmental organization after the United Nations; its membership comprises 57 states across four continents. Prof. Ihsanoglu's term as secretary general will conclude at the end of 2013.

At the reception, CAIR presented an award to Dr. Ihsanoglu in recognition of his "lifetime commitment to interfaith and intercultural dialogue and of [his] pioneering work to increase understanding of Islam and Muslims."

When accepting the award, Dr. Ihsanoglu said: "I think we need more support for CAIR, and I have been always trying to do this on my own and through people who also believe in CAIR's mission. I thank you. I wanted to pay you a farewell visit in my capacity as secretary general."

"We appreciate Secretary General Ihsanoglu's vision, leadership and hard work to increase the effectiveness and profile of OIC's efforts internationally, and we appreciate his support of our work at CAIR," said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad.

CAIR staff also shared the findings of their recently released report on Islamophobia in the United States with the secretary general and his associates and discussed how the two institutions can work together to challenge Islamophobia. The OIC's Islamophobia Observatory issued its fifth worldwide report on Islamophobia in November 2012.

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

This item is available on the Militant Islam Monitor website, at http://www.militantislammonitor.org/article/id/6091