Set up observer to monitor religious discrimination - OIC

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has suggested the setting up of an international observer to monitor intolerance and discrimination against all religions and their followers.

Its secretary-general, Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, said that with such a move, there would be better understanding of the extent of such problems and in turn would result in effective and concerted international response.

He pointed out that the OIC is monitoring Islamophobia and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is monitoring hate crimes.

According to an OIC statement, Ihsanoglu spoke about the establishment of the international observer at a high-level international meeting on Tuesday in London. He was invited by Britain's minister of state for foreign and Commonwealth affairs, Baroness Sayeeda Warsi.

Ihsanoglu suggested that the international observer be within the ambit of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).