The OIC (Organization of Islamic Countries) is starting its meeting in Malaysia this week under a cloud. Instead of being a dynamic world body, it is in danger of becoming an ineffective and dysfunctional organization. Take, first of all, the fact that the OIC conference in Malaysia is their first meeting since 9/11. Therefore the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, civil liberties violations against Muslims, and the continuing expansion of neo-Empire have gone unopposed by this body. On top of this comes the unbelievable news that the OIC is seriously considering Bangladesh's nomination of Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury as Secretary General. An alleged war criminal who has been accused of assisting the Pakistan army's genocidal actions during Bangladesh's 1971 liberation war, Chowdhury is a symbol of rehabilitation of war criminals in South Asia. To now appoint this man SG of the OIC would reduce the organization to a global laughing stock.

As the OIC began its meeting this week, Malaysia's Mahathir Mohammed grabbed headlines and dragged the organization further into the mud. Sounding like a fresh convert to propaganda tracts like "Protocols of the Elders of Zion," Mohammed let loose an onslaught of anti-semitic polemic at the opening ceremonies of the OIC. In his fiery speech, he told leaders of the Islamic world that 1.3 billion Muslims could not be "defeated by a few million Jews" who "rule the world by proxy." For good measure he then added, "This tiny [Jewish] community has become a world power. We cannot fight them through brawn alone. We must use our brains as well." This is not Mahathir's first flirtation with anti-semitic invective. In 1970, he resurrected Shakespeare's "hook-nosed Jew" in "The Malay Dilemma": "The Jews for example are not merely hook-nosed, but understand money instinctively." In 1997, when speculators drove down the value of the Malaysian currency, an angry Mahathir said, "We are Muslims and the Jews are not happy to see Muslims' progress. We may suspect that they have an agenda but we do not want to accuse them."

Mahathir's sentiments are hardly unique in the world. Shakespeare's heavy-handed caricatures in Merchant Of Venice ("Certainly the Jew is the very devil incarnal"; Act II, Sc 2) drew inspiration from the prevailing anti-semitic sentiments of his time. As recently as this week, Gregg Easterbrook, Senior Editor of The New Republic, was taken to task for his attack on the ultra-violent film "Kill Bill." In his review, Easterbrook wrote, "Disney's CEO Michael Eisner is Jewish; the chief of Miramax, Harvey Weinstein, is Jewish." and then he went on to criticize them because although "Christian and other Hollywood executives" "worship money", "Does that make it right for Jewish executives to worship money above all else, by promoting for profit the adulation of violence?"

Clearly anti-semitic sentiments are not limited to Muslim nations. In fact, through modern history, most of the violence and pogroms against the Jewish community were carried out by European nations. Infamously, the Vatican and the US Senate turned a blind eye to the Holocaust during World War II. One of the few times when Jews were treated most humanely by a majority population was during the period of Muslim expansion into new countries. But in spite of this history, in today's geopolitical cauldron, Muslim anti-semitism will always grab bigger headlines and do more damage to Muslims than any other community's hate-speech.

Of course, criticizing the Israeli government is not the same as anti-semitism. When Mahathir condemns Israeli aggression against Palestinians and neighboring countries, he repeats a critique that many progressive Jewish commentators will agree with (recall, some of the strongest critique of Ariel Sharon's "Apartheid Wall" comes from the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz). But by expanding that critique to include the entire Jewish community, and to talk about "the Jewish race" and their "tendencies", Mahathir has crossed over into anti-semitism. Moreover, his comments come at a fragile time for the Muslim ummah. Liberal Muslims are trying to push their countries to embrace human rights in places like Iran and Nigeria. Others are trying to stem the tide of converts to fanatical organizations preaching violence and the murder of civilians. In a time like this, Mahathir's ill-thought comments will only enflame radical Muslims further and strengthen the hand of the right-wing elements within political Islam.

Mahathir's sentiments are a perfect example of why the OIC has been completely irrelevant in performing its stated goal: to improve the condition of the worldwide Muslim community. By making simple-minded comments that shift blame for the Muslim world's ills, Mahathir backtracks on his otherwise good strategy of confronting the problems of the Muslim world and concentrating on what we can change within, rather than complaining about "outside forces" we have no control over. Indeed, even when the OIC can agree on some sort of "action," it is usually in the form of a joint statement that is immediately tossed into the diplomacy dustbin. The trouble with Mahathir in particular is that he had the chance to be remembered as a visionary leader - someone who brought his country to prosperity and spoke boldly on behalf of the Global South. Instead, he will be remembered for stupid acts like jailing his Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on sodomy charges and making blanket statements against "the Jews."

Next week, Mahathir will retire as Malaysia's Prime Minister after 22 years in office. What a shameful swansong for a man who had the potential to unite, not divide.

Sometimes it is wise to walk a little in the other party's mocasins.

Cooler tempers might prevail if Mahathir mulls over what he would have done in 1948 if he were a holocaust survivor. Wouldn't he have done everything in his power to defeat the Arab armies that invaded Israel?

More importantly, Mahathir might want to mull over the fact that Palestine was a two-way street at that moment in history. Yes, many a Palestinian ( 0.5 million?) fled his ancestral home in the wake of Palestine's partition. But at least an equal number of Jews got thrown out from Arab countries (from Morocco to Iraq) and even from Iran.

Today, the majority of Jews in Israel are Shephardic Jews most of whom have either lived in Palestine for centuries or are from Arab lands.

In fact, the downfall of the Labor Party in Israel and the rise of the hard line Likud is specifically related to this demographic mix - the better educated Ashkenazic Jews (of Yiddish heritage) yielding to the numerically dominant Shephardic Jews.

Needless to say, these Shephardic Jews have no reason to feel that they owe anything to the Palestinians who had lost their ancestral home. More importantly, the Shephardic Jews have genuine cause to resent the Arab countries that threw them out of their ancestral home in the aftermath of Palestine's partition.

If Mahathir mulls over the facts, I am sure he'll see how illogical and unreasonable it was for him to denounce the Jewish people.

More importantly, Mahathir will realize how unreasonable are those that will not settle for peace for anything less than the Palestinians' right to return to their ancestral land.

Last but not the least, Mahathir would be doing humanity a real favor if he can persuade the Bangladesh government not to push a war criminal as its candidate for Secretary General of OIC.

I applaud the author speaking out against these anti-semitic comments. I would just add one point. In the opening paragraph he refers to the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq as a violation of Muslim civil liberties. I assume he refers to the invasion of Iraq after 9/11 and not the previous one that occurred under the pretext of freeing Kuwait from an invasion by its neighbor. In either case, whether or not a majority of the inhabitants of these countries wanted our assistance or not, can be debated, but lets just play fair and realize that the presence of bin Laden and other "freedom fighters' in Afghanistan from many diverse places, had no more right to be there than the U.S., and lets not forget that the biggest violator of Muslim civil liberties in Iraq was Sadaam Hussein and his regime, not the U.S.

As a U.S. citizen with two sons, I can tell you that quite frankly, I am not interested in seeing them die in any Muslim country, or any other country for that matter. Even if it is for a "good" cause. Let the sons of those countries shed their blood for whatever cause they see fit, and let mine alone.

I will say however, that had my sons been asked to fight for the lives of Jews in World War II, I would have been proud of their participation even if it had "violated the civil liberties" of any one fighting on the side of Hitler and his allies.

"It is a message that lays the foundation to enhance meaningful dialogue and understanding between the West and the Muslim world, rather than subverting it as the EU president perceived it. Mahathir should be credited, not condemned, for a brave and honest speech."

http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/200310200035496.php

Mahatir's Full Speech
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/10/20/1066502121884.html

Mahathir would be doing humanity a real favor if he can persuade the Bangladesh government not to push a war criminal as its candidate for Secretary General of OIC. The war criminal's success will truly make OIC a laughing stock of the world if it is not already so.

"Salahuddin Qader Chowdhury, the alleged war criminal, is a disgrace to say the least. But then, as a wag opined, he and OIC deserve each other amply. Better to have the crook away from Dhaka and living with the creeps in Jeddah. "

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http://www.muslimwakeup.com/mainarchive/000149.html#more

War Criminal to Head Islamic Conference? Bangladeshis Oppose Chowdhury Nomination by Naeem Mohaiemen

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http://www.muslimwakeup.com/mainarchive/000188.html#more

Should a Mafia Don Lead World Muslims? Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury's Nomination to Head the OIC By Dr. A. Momen

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http://www.gulf-news.com/Articles/opinion.asp?ArticleID=98774

Gulf News
Dubai:Sunday, September 28, 2003

OIC does not need a tarnished politician from Bangladesh By Abdullah Al Madani

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http://thunderbay.indymedia.org/news/2003/07/7772.php

War Criminal, OIC, and the Government of Bangladesh by Akram, Khundkar,Saleh, Tasneem, Ahmed et al

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http://www.pressaction.com/pablog/archives/001076.html

October 15, 2003
Bangladeshis Oppose Chowdhury Nomination to OIC

The Bangladeshi community is alarmed at their government's decision to nominate Mr. Salauddin Quader Chowdhury, a
controversial figure and alleged war criminal, for the position of the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC). A petition to protest his candidacy is available online at:[url=http://www.petitiononline.com/saka]http://www.petitiononline.com/saka[/url]

It is easy to brand someone as anti-semitic without taking a look at what atrocities the Palestinian civilian population have been suffering under Israeli brutalities for over half a century.Dr.Mahathir was saying out loud what other Muslim leaders didn't have the guts to voice out. The so-called OIC leaders have so far been 'hot air' since 1969. What action has the OIC ever taken to help the Palestinians,Kashmiris,Iraqis,Chechnyans,Bosnians and all other minority Muslim communities who are being raped,killed,have their homes levelled, exterminated and all in plain view of the entire socalled civilised world?
Dr.Mahathir has the'balls' to call a spade a spade and not be a 'rubberstamp' like the UN Secretary General who is simply a silent stooge of the main terrorist nation in the world at the moment under Dubya's lunatic rule, the USA ( Under Satanic Administration)
But again , the Israeli regime has forgotten that by oppressing the legitimate owners of the lands which they are now occupying, they have turned into worse criminals than Hitler's Nazi hordes!
No wonder , the Israeli occupiers are building the new 'Berlin Wall' supposedly to keep out the Palestinian freedom fighters!
I personally have no problem with the Jewish civilian population...it is simply their military rulers like Sharon,Netanyahu & Company who make me curse them for their heartlessness!
I also do not condone the 'suicide bombings' of the Palestinian population who are being driven to commit such unIslamic acts but I can understand their frustrations after losing everything that they ever need to live for! May the Almighty grant them salvation and raise for them an able leader to take them out of this misery!
Yasser Arafat should make way for a new Palestinian leader who must not sell out his people for favours by either the Israeli occupiers or their stooge in Washington.
Dr Mahathir would make a swell UN Secretary General ( the man has proven to the world what he can do by turning Malaysia from being a backward colonial outpost into one of the most dynamic, developing country in just 22 years)
Whoever wants to pick out Dr M's faults , I suggest that he or she reexamine thier own self! Are you free from sin or faults yourself? Stand before your mirror and check your records first!
Let's be fair and read his statement in full and try to understand what he really means.

It is easy to brand someone as anti-semitic without taking a look at what atrocities the Palestinian civilian population have been suffering under Israeli brutalities for over half a century.Dr.Mahathir was saying out loud what other Muslim leaders didn't have the guts to voice out. The so-called OIC leaders have so far been 'hot air' since 1969. What action has the OIC ever taken to help the Palestinians,Kashmiris,Iraqis,Chechnyans,Bosnians and all other minority Muslim communities who are being raped,killed,have their homes levelled, exterminated and all in plain view of the entire socalled civilised world?
Dr.Mahathir has the'balls' to call a spade a spade and not be a 'rubberstamp' like the UN Secretary General who is simply a silent stooge of the main terrorist nation in the world at the moment under Dubya's lunatic rule, the USA ( Under Satanic Administration)
But again , the Israeli regime has forgotten that by oppressing the legitimate owners of the lands which they are now occupying, they have turned into worse criminals than Hitler's Nazi hordes!
No wonder , the Israeli occupiers are building the new 'Berlin Wall' supposedly to keep out the Palestinian freedom fighters!
I also do not condone the 'suicide bombings' of the Palestinian population who are being driven to commit such unIslamic acts but I can understand their frustrations after losing everything that they ever need to live for! May the Almighty grant them salvation and raise for them an able leader to take them out of this misery!
Dr Mahathir would make a swell UN Secretary General ( the man has proven to the world what he can do by turning Malaysia from being a backward colonial outpost into one of the most dynamic, developing country in just 22 years)
Whoever wants to pick out Dr M's faults , I suggest that he or she reexamine thier own self! Are you free from sin or faults yourself? Stand before your mirror and check your records first!
Let's be fair and read his statement in full and try to understand what he really means.
I know for a fact that there are millions of good decent folk out there in the USA ,UK ,Australia, even in Israel who do not like to see what their governments are doing to the rest of the world and wish to live in peace and harmony with everyone else.
We can for the moment , pray that these lunatics will come to a quick demise and save us from their evil. Amen.

Agree with abuzikri. Do read Mahathit's long OIC speech in entirety. After which we should reflect upon ourselves of the global ummah's dilemma.

It is easy just to pick one or two sentences to critisize someone's intention. It may be a coincidence that exact setences quoted, were the same ones quoted in every newspaper in the world. Maybe it is just that we have not the time to read the whole speech, therefore taking the points from the well publisized non muslim owned media may have been more convenient.

Reading the whole article and understand it is the least we as muslims could do to support a leader that at last is free from his geographical obligation (Malaysia) to help unite the global ummah.

He may have a few years left to serve the global disunited ummah, but currently he is the best hope with proven track record to undertake the deed. We the "intelligent muslims" around the world can at least focus on his strenghths rather than his weaknesses.

As for comments on Anwar Ibrahim, only Allah s.w.t knows what really happened within the four walls. But one thing for sure, Malaysians have the right not to take chances to be led by a leader who may have the committed serious sins in our religion.

Besides, the majority of Malaysians have confirmed their voting for Mahathir, then who are we, the non Malaysians, to say what is right or wrong for Malaysia. And what was the true story or otherwise of what happened there? Next to Allah swt and Anwar himself, only the Malaysians may well know the truth compared to us who may have not even stepped on the Malaysian soil.

I am not against any particular race or society in the world, but my concern is basically the lack of unity of Ummah in the world that is affecting the muslim image. The best way to show our disunity is to support the non muslims interpretation of our our fellow muslims and then to keep quiet on on the non muslims' bashing of the religion.

There was no equal uproar when muslims are branded as terrorist - they were being anti muslims, why?

Oh by the way, "anti semantic" is a word that appears in most of the English dictionaries, but "anti muslims" is not. Why?

Food for thoughts.