Dear Editor,
Guyana, as a member of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), routinely joins in its hypocritical condemnation of India. The most recent OIC attack on India came a few days ago on the third anniversary of the removal of Article 370 of the Indian constitution. Previously, this collective, consisting of some of the most brutally repressive regimes in the world, attacked India, a free and democratic society, on its own Citizen Amendment Act, the National Register of Citizens, the Karnataka hijab controversy and on the life sentencing of Yasin Malik, self-confessed terrorist and murderer.
In none of these cases, has Guyana been known to distance itself from the official pronouncements of this motley crew of dictators. Our government must not forget, however, that India has been one of our most faithful allies even before 1966. It currently ranks as one of our largest aid donors, and has done more for our country than all the 50 odd member states of the OIC combined, playing an integral part in our economic and cultural development.
In the areas of science and technology alone, India has been providing the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) scholarships, valued at tens of millions of US dollars, to hundreds of Guyanese from all walks of life over the years, with our president, Irfaan Ali, himself being a recipient of India’s generosity.
How, then, can Guyana justify its membership in this entity where one can find the largest conglomeration of the most despotic and murderous regimes on the planet? How can Guyana justify its de facto condemnation of India, a true and faithful ally? What realpolitik imperative justifies this obvious double standard?
Indeed, far from any possible justification, Guyana’s membership in this religious body, whose goal is the promotion and advancement of a single religion, is a flagrant violation of our very own secular constitution. Though the state here does not officially promote any religion, Article 145 of the Guyana constitution guarantees the right of worship of every religious group, a civilized value unknown to many OIC member states.
Ironically, while the OIC frequently lectures India of freedom, democracy and human rights ostensibly in its concern for Muslims in India, its member states have scant regard for the human rights of their own citizens. As a matter of fact, more Muslims are victims of violence in their own countries at the hands of fellow Muslims than anywhere else in the world. One can therefore imagine the plight of non-Muslim minorities.
Currently, Iran is embroiled a savage campaign to exterminate the last vestiges of the Bahai faith; in Malaysia, by law, Christians cannot translate the Bible into the local language without using the word Allah for God; in Pakistan and other Islamic states Ahmadiyas cannot call themselves Muslims; and in Sunni dominant states, Shias are the victims of relentless murderous attacks, most of which occur during Friday prayers and in the month of Ramadan.
Guyana’s membership in the OIC is a stain on our democracy and it behooves our leaders to rethink our association with this organization, the home of many a rogue state. A public campaign calling for our immediate withdrawal from OIC is therefore entirely in order.
Sincerely,
Swami Aksharananda
