The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) marked the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks by releasing a statement condemning the "horrendous and cowardly" terrorist attacks, while adding that it is necessary to address the "root causes" of terrorism.
"In its firm belief that combating terrorism requires a multi dimensional approach and not only the use of military means to guarantee sustainable peace, the OIC attaches enormous importance to identifying and addressing the root causes of conflicts and disputes," the statement reads.
Other "root" causes the OIC attributes to acts of terror include "political, economic, social or technological" underpinnings.
The statement said the OIC's position against terrorism is spelled out in its Ten Year Programme of Action adopted in 2005. That document condemns terrorism yet "distinguish[es] it from the legitimate resistance to foreign occupation, which does not sanction the killing of innocent civilians," an article from CNS News Monday notes. The CNS News article also points to the OIC Convention on Combating Terrorism in July 1999, which says, "Peoples struggle including armed struggle against foreign occupation, aggression, colonialism, and hegemony, aimed at liberation and self-determination in accordance with the principles of international law shall not be considered a terrorist crime."
The OIC 9/11 statement also mentions that the tragic events have helped "the Islamophobes to pursue with their discriminatory agenda towards Islam and Muslims."
The OIC has tried to separate Islam from terrorism, the CNS News article notes, "but its fixed stance on 'occupation' has not helped it to achieve that goal."