Ministers of Information of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) stressed the importance of cooperation among member states in developing mechanisms necessary to combat misinformation and face other challenges related to the post-truth era and preparing short, medium and long-term strategic plans in the comprehensive battle against misinformation. This was mentioned in the Istanbul Declaration issued yesterday at the conclusion of the 12th Islamic Conference of Information Ministers held in Istanbul, Republic of Türkiye, on October 21 and 22, 2022, where the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's delegation was headed by Acting Minister of Media Dr. Majid Al-Qasabi. The ministers also underscored the need to combat Islamophobia/hatred against Islam in all its manifestations by presenting the truth about the magnanimous religion of Islam in an effective manner, utilizing new and emerging platforms and technological innovations, stressing the crucial role of media in Islamic countries in exposing the Israeli aggression against the Palestinians and call for illuminating the legitimate cause of the Palestinian people to end the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories. They also highlighted the importance of international solidarity and assistance to support refugees and people seeking shelter, particularly in the OIC Member States. The ministers also commend the efforts of the OIC towards the advancement of the mission of Islam and promote dialogue between the Islamic culture and the world's other cultures, and praised the constant efforts and initiatives of the OIC Secretary General and his contacts within and outside the Islamic world, contributing thereby to giving the Islamic voice a prominent position in international fora, and request that he renders his good offices and fully utilize the capacities of OIC and its organs to coordinate implementation of decisions and recommendations adopted by this Conference towards combating disinformation and Islamophobia in the Post-Truth era. The OIC information ministers call for a renewed commitment to the noble objectives of the OIC and support for all its initiatives and activities, particularly in the communication and information domains with a view to encouraging unity, solidarity and cooperation in the Islamic World, and called on media outlets in the member states to raise global awareness about deliberate acts of destruction and desecration of Islamic cultural and religious heritage in non-Muslim countries, especially in those areas where indigenous Muslim communities were subjected to ethnic cleansing. The ministers also welcomed the progress towards the operationalization of the OIC Media Forum (OMF) and calls upon media entities and institutions in the member states to join the OMF, extend appreciation to the people and government of the Republic of Türkiye for their generous hospitality during the 12th Session of the Islamic Conference of Information Ministers.
