Presidency's Director Communications Fahrettin Altun said, "Unfortunately, Islam, a religion of peace, tried to be marginalised through systematic hate speech and disinformation campaigns. Today, we can clearly see that there is an industry behind this."
The 12th Session of the Islamic Conference of Information Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) organised with the participation of ministers and high-level representatives from 48 countries in a hotel in Beşiktaş, and hosted by Türkiye, began with the recitation of the Holy Quran.
At the Conference, a hologram demonstration was presented to introduce the specially designed logo that represents Islam's global spread to the east, west, north, and south.
Chairperson of the 11th Session of the Islamic Conference of Information Ministers of the OIC and Minister of Commerce of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi handed over the term presidency to Director of Communications Fahrettin Altun on behalf of Türkiye.
Director of Communications Altun stated at the inauguration that he was highly pleased and honoured to assume the Chairmanship of the Islamic Conference of Information Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on behalf of Türkiye and that they regarded it as a great responsibility.
Expressing his gratitude to Saudi Arabia, which held the previous term presidency, for its contributions to the Conference, Director of Communications Altun wished that the Conference would be beneficial for the countries and the organisation.
Stating that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who attended the Conference yesterday, pointed out a significant point in his speech, Director of Communications Altun repeated to the audience President Erdoğan's words, "With the spread of communication technologies, access to information and news becomes easier, while humanity's connection with the truth is gradually weakening."
Noting that, on the one hand, we were exposed to a bombardment of news and information, and on the other hand, we were exposed to a bombardment of disinformation, Director of Communications Altun added:
"In the information and technology era we live in, access to mass media and interaction between users have increased. This development brought many opportunities for individuals, societies, and states. However, unfortunately, this enormous opportunity can also be used to distort the truth. At this moment, together, we are witnessing a 'post-truth' era where it becomes difficult to reach reality and truth in every aspect. We are experiencing a post-truth era. Today, individuals, societies, and countries all over the world are exposed to disinformation, lies, and distortions more and more every day. We see that increasing technological possibilities are used mostly for the purpose of reconstructing reality. In the post-truth era, the reconstruction of reality according to ideological obsessions and the interests of global technology companies and tutelage circles is the common problem of humanity."
Stressing that in order to draw attention to this problem and find a solution, they are holding the Conference this year under the theme "Combating Disinformation and Islamophobia in the Post-Truth Era," Director of Communications Altun said:
"We must uphold the truth. Claiming and fighting for the truth is one of the basic teachings of our supreme religion, Islam. Therefore, we have to fight for the truth in every aspect, from individual and social life to international relations. We have the responsibility of not deviating from the truth and ensuring that truth prevails. Every step we take with this awareness and sensitivity will be auspicious, especially for the Islamic world and, of course, for all humanity."
"One of today's global threats is undoubtedly Islamophobia"
Director of Communications Fahrettin Altun noted that in his speech yesterday, President Erdoğan pointed out that on one side of the coin are disinformation and digital terrorism, while on the other are Islamophobia and xenophobia.
Stressing that one of today's global threats was undoubtedly Islamophobia, Director of Communications added:
"Hostility towards Islam in the literature today has taken the form of Islamophobia. When we say Islamophobia, we basically mean hostility towards Islam and anti-Muslim sentiment. The hostility towards the religion of Islam and our Muslim brothers and sisters is, unfortunately, extremely increasing all over the world. Today, the hostility towards Islam and anti-Muslim sentiments, which are deliberately heightened by disinformation activities, unfortunately, are finding wider territory for themselves day by day. Of course, there are different manifestations of this hostility. This hostility makes itself felt in many dimensions, from physical violence to discrimination and hate speech. Thus, Islam and Muslims are tried to be marginalised and turned into an object of hatred. Unfortunately, Islam, a religion of peace, tried to be marginalised through systematic hate speech and disinformation campaigns. Today, we can clearly see that there is an industry behind this."
"Some countries lead to the institutionalisation of Islamophobia with the regulations they put into effect"
Noting that the European Islamophobia Report, published every year, points out that anti-Islamic racism is felt in many areas of social and political life, Director of Communications Altun stated that the anti-Islamic rhetoric and hate crimes are reflected in the data.
Stating that Islamophobia also has a feature that divides the world community and threatens global peace and stability, Director of Communications Altun said, "Therefore, the whole world needs to see Islamophobia and hostility towards Islam as an open hate crime, a crime against humanity and to fight against this crime effectively. In other words, fighting this crime should be one of the main duties of not only Muslims but also of the international community. However, unfortunately, some countries, contrary to fighting this crime against humanity, lead to the institutionalisation of Islamophobia with the regulations they put into effect."
Stressing that violence against Muslims is spreading not only in Western countries where Islamophobia is on the rise but also in different geographies and that the necessity of reforming global institutions, especially the United Nations, is also evident, Director of Communications Altun stated that this necessity in the fight against Islamophobia is manifested in a very clear and obvious manner.
Pointing out that in light of this, global organisations should expand decision-making channels that include Islamic countries, Director of Communications Altun emphasised that the effectiveness of Islamic countries within these global organisations should be enhanced.
Director of Communications Fahrettin Altun stated that when President Erdoğan referred to the UN reform by stating, "The world is bigger than five," he was essentially referring to the weakness of the Islamic world's representation there and that he underlined that the representation of the Islamic world in decision-making mechanisms at the UN with all its might and true identity is an obligation for fair world order.
Stating that systematic problems faced by Muslims should always be a part of the international agenda, Director of Communications Altun said, "Therefore, the relevant institutions and organisations of Islamic nations must develop new mechanisms and studies to effectively challenge these collaborations. In this context, we are aware that the activities of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation are of vital importance."
"The global mainstream media does not sufficiently address the problems and views of Muslims"
Stressing that the international media and global think tanks have played an undeniable role in the spread of Islamophobia, Director of Communications Altun said:
"Considering this, deepening cooperation in the press, publication, and information stands out as one of our most critical issues. Unfortunately, international media outlets paint a very negative portrait of Muslims. When we look at this point, we also see that these images are fed by the tradition of orientalism. The global mainstream media does not sufficiently address the problems and views of Muslims. This is turning the international media into an echo chamber.With the targeting of Islam and Muslims, the stage set for hate crimes and acts of violence is expanding in the echo chamber."
Emphasising that disinformation campaigns through social media are another factor that causes the spread of Islamophobia, Director of Communications Altun said, "The unmeasured and uncontrolled growth of disinformation in social media is a factor that fuels Islamophobia in the global arena."
Noting that extreme right-wing and populist politicians are setting the stage for new crimes against humanity with their disinformation campaigns against Muslims on social media, Director of Communications Altun said, "Structures, actors, and elements of the extreme right that produce disinformation fuel hostility towards refugees, Muslims, and foreigners with unfounded and unverified false information. Disinformation and misinformation campaigns are among the most important communication strategies of these groups."
Stating that with their conspiracy theories, they are trying to spread a strategy of fear to large segments of society, Director of Communications Altun added:
"The climate of fear generates an industry, and this industry is fed by disinformation. Türkiye is aware of the danger posed by anti-refugee and anti-Muslim movements in the world. As a leader who is aware of these threats in the first place, our Esteemed President reminded the international community on every platform of the need to fight and be united against this threat. At this point, he reiterated his calls on all international platforms numerous times. Combating rhetoric that defames Islam and Muslims has always been one of our key principles. Our President, who is at the forefront of the fight against Islamophobic and anti-Muslim discourse, stresses that it is the primary responsibility of every civilised society to combat anti-Muslim discourse."
"As Muslims, we must intensify our efforts as the defenders of truth"
Noting that in such a difficult time, it is the moral and human responsibility of all of us to tell the truth and not to allow disinformation, Director of Communications Altun said, "As Muslims, we must intensify our efforts as the defenders of truth. We must make the truth a legitimate basis for the entire world and humanity in all spheres, including daily life, academia, the media, and politics. We must disclose discourses far from the truth and hostile rhetoric developed against Islam and Muslims."
Stressing that a great effort should be exerted to present Islam, which is a religion of tolerance and peace, to the world public opinion with its own essence and truth, Director of Communications Altun stated that establishing common platforms in the fields of information, communication, and media and bringing truth-based narratives together with the global public on these platforms is crucial at this time.
Stating that it is extremely vital for the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation to carry out scientific studies and joint academic projects on disinformation and the fight against Islamophobia, Director of Communications Altun said, "In this regard, I would like to highlight the important role that will be played by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation's Media Forum, which will be based in Istanbul. Through the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation's Media Forum, we hope to realise concrete projects between the information institutions of the organisation's member nations and develop programmes to combat Islamophobia and disinformation."
Emphasising that as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, our cooperation efforts for the development of peace and stability in the region in which we operate have allowed us to realise tangible gains, Director of Communications Altun concluded, "This cooperation, which can be developed and maintained in different areas, will hopefully continue to bear fruit in the future. As Türkiye, we will exert effort that will expand and strengthen the joint work during the 12thSession of the Islamic Conference of Information Ministers and institutionalise mechanisms that will provide solutions to problems in a radical way."
After the speech of Director of Communications Altun, the participants posed for a family photo. The working sessions of the 12th Session of the Islamic Conference of Information Ministers of the OIC continue as closed-door sessions.
