Submitted by david singer, Feb 8, 2008 16:30

The 57 Moslem States comprising the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) has been very silent at the action taken by one of its members - Egypt - to hermetically seal its border with Gaza.

The OIC was founded in 1969 to "preserve Islamic spiritual, ethical, social and economic values, which will remain one of the important factors of achieving progress for mankind"

What such values are being demonstrated by the decision to lock up the Gazans in their prison again?

Surely the humanitarian message of the open border was clear - many Gazans relished the opportunity to escape - briefly or permanently - from what is no doubt a disastrous and oppressive environment.

Whilst hundreds of millions of Moslems in OIC member States enjoy the right to migrate, Gazans have now apparently been denied the same right by their own Moslem brethren.

UNICEF states that 56 percent of Gazans are under the age of 18 years and that they are bearing the brunt of restrictions in Gaza. How can the IOC actively countenance the continuation of this disgraceful situation and not seek to promote the opportunity for Gazans to choose a better life - either by resettlement in any of their 57 member states or elsewhere of their choosing?

Should the OIC not be pressing Egypt to allow Gazans to be given the opportunity of migrating through Egypt to find a more peaceful and prosperous future for themselves and their children?

The Gazans - for the umpteenth time in their wretched history over the past 60 years - are once again being gazumped by their Moslem and Arab brothers. Will anything or anyone ever be able to save them?

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