Oglu added that Europe, which had endured wars lasting as long as 300 years, established the European Union and unified its currency after recognizing the need to confront the rising powers of China and India.
Al-Shayji agreed, saying a quarter of humanity could not remain marginalized in this way, with such a large population suffering from a strategic vacuum, poverty, hunger, terrorism and the demonization of Islam.
On combating terrorism, he said Muslims, rather than Westerners, were its greatest victims. He also pointed to double standards within the Islamic world in defining terrorism and distinguishing between militias and resistance fighters.
Al-Shayji praised the Islamic alliance and Turkey’s call to establish an Islamic Interpol. He said 99% of Muslims were moderate, while Zionism and some Western circles benefited from demonizing Islam by exploiting a small, aberrant minority such as Islamic State.
He added that the summit was marked by clear coolness between Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, and between Egypt and Turkey. Summit chair Recep Tayyip Erdogan had not shaken hands with Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, he noted.
Turkish regional-affairs researcher Yusuf Katipoglu said he did not deny disagreements among Islamic countries. Responding to al-Shayji’s comment about the lack of a handshake, he said Turkey had fulfilled its role as host and thanked Egypt for its previous chairmanship of the summit.
Katipoglu said, however, that the Egyptian foreign minister had clearly acted improperly by failing to thank Turkey as host, delivering his speech and leaving before the end of the first day, which he described as a breach of protocol.
He said Turkey understood the scale of its responsibility as it prepared to chair the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. With 57 member states, it was the second-largest organization after the United Nations and faced major challenges and weak performance.
He also highlighted Erdogan’s call for an Islamic bloc that could resolve its problems internally. Turkey’s message, he said, was a strong call for an arbitration authority within the Islamic world, for OIC decisions to become more than ink on paper, and for the organization to have advanced media outlets.