The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), envisioned as a collective voice of the Muslim world, continues to falter when confronted with crises demanding more than rhetoric. Its recent statement following the US-Israeli attack on Iran is another testament to its habitual pattern of issuing condemnations devoid of action. While the Istanbul Declaration addressed both the genocide in Gaza and the aggression against Iran, its content fell short of the gravity of the situation.
The declaration denounced Israel’s destabilising role in the region and expressed firm condemnation of the assault on Iran. Meanwhile, the OIC General Secretariat only managed to muster “concern” over the US targeting of Iranian nuclear sites. These remarks, while diplomatically worded, reflect a disturbing detachment from the real and present dangers facing the region. Such weak-kneed responses do not deter aggression; rather, they risk normalising it.
The core issue lies in the fractured geopolitical landscape within the OIC itself. Many of its member states are tethered to Western economic or military support, rendering them reluctant to confront powers like the US and Israel. This dependency dilutes the OIC’s ability to act as a unified bloc, even in the face of blatant aggression against fellow Muslim states.
History provides a sobering reminder of what inaction leads to. From Afghanistan and Iraq to Libya, Syria, Yemen, and now Gaza and Iran, the Muslim world has repeatedly been subjected to foreign invasions, occupations, and destabilisation campaigns. If the OIC continues to remain a forum of empty statements, the next target could be any one of its own members.
It is no longer enough to issue condemnations. If the OIC wishes to remain relevant, it must adopt concrete measures. Economic boycotts of aggressor states, suspension of diplomatic ties, and mobilising international legal platforms to hold violators accountable are tools at its disposal. Furthermore, member states should work towards building independent security and economic mechanisms to reduce reliance on external powers that often pursue hostile agendas in the Muslim world.
The current situation calls for bold leadership and moral clarity. The time has come for the OIC to evolve beyond being a symbolic organisation. It must serve as a proactive shield for Muslim nations under threat, not just a voice of belated regret.
Until then, its silence and softness will only embolden aggressors and betray the very people it claims to represent.