MAKKAH:
Muslim heads of state were expected to suspend Syria from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) at a summit in the Saudi city of Makkah on Wednesday despite objections from Iran, Bashar al Assad’s closest ally.
The decision by the 57-member body is symbolic and will have little practical effect on Syria, but it will underline Assad’s isolation in the Islamic world.
Syria has become another arena in a wider sectarian-tinged tussle pitting Iran against Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies, who are backed by the West despite their own evident distaste for democracy. Turkey has also turned against Assad to become a focus of efforts to topple its former friend.
Nevertheless, to preserve a facade of Muslim unity, Saudi King Abdullah welcomed leaders to the Makkah summit with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad beside him. The two men were shown on Saudi state TV talking and laughing together.
“It was a message to the Iranian nation and, I assume, to the Saudi people, that we are Muslim and we have to work together and forget about our differences,” said Abdullah al Shammari, a Saudi political analyst.
When it comes to Syria, those gaps appear insurmountable, with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey supporting the rebels, and Iran determined to prop up a proven ally who has provided vital logistical support for its ally Hezbollah in Lebanon. `
Turkey’s ties with Iran, an important trade partner and energy supplier, have also worsened over Syria and over US-led efforts to punish Tehran for its disputed nuclear programme.
Syria’s mainly Sunni Muslim rebels are backed by Arab states such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar as well as Turkey, while Iran supports Assad, a member of the Alawite minority sect.
Those divisions have stymied diplomatic efforts to halt the bloodshed in Syria, where opposition sources say 18,000 people have been killed, and have raised the prospect of Syria becoming a proxy battlefield for outside powers.
Assad’s former prime minister, Riyad Habib who defected this month, made his first public appearance on Tuesday since he fled, telling a news conference in Jordan that Assad controls less than a third of Syria and his power is crumbling.
“The regime is collapsing, spiritually and financially, as it escalates militarily,” he said. “It no longer controls more than 30 percent of Syrian territory.”
Published in The Express Tribune, August 16th, 2012.
COMMENTS (27)
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Where is Pakistan-the only nuclear Muslim country?
It would have been wiser for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to stay away from the OIC summit in Mecca. There he stood alone against the whole Sunni Arab world when it came to the Syrian issue. Where was his fierce and raucous rhetoric? Perhaps he prefers to keep a low profile till the end of his tenure next year.
Despite all harsh ground realities, watching Iranian President and Saudi King together was soothing.
@san
How? by flushing out 90% of its population? Think!
When you are a fool and don't understand a crisis neither can suggest a rational statement THEN blame the US for that... Simple ideology of Pakistanis.
Anyone who has taken a basic course at undergrad level in International Relations would know that interfering in the internal affairs of a state is illegal. And I am amused by the Sunni-Shia tinge given to this. I am from the majority sect of Pakistan yet I support Bashar's stance on the issue. IF a rebellion were to prop up in Pakistan, I would like to see how many of us would like to see Saudi, Turk, American intervention supporting rebels. Isnt the role of the Saudis much like the Indian role of 1971 in supporting the rebels in East Pakistan? I agree the Syrians need to have the right to self determination but of all the countries a monarchy like Saudi Arabia is going to implement that?
Syrian government is in the same position as Pakistan. Pakistan is turning their back from flushing out Taliban's and Syrian government really wants the job done.
We need a leader like Ahmadinejad, Imran could be that leader!
Puppets Indeed.
Great job by Ahmadinejad to show unity amongst Muslim nations. I wish we had leader like that since Bhutto. Imran has a glimpse of such a leader, let's give him a chance.
Adnan Siddiqi
Marriott Karachi, Pakistan
puppets
@Mohammad Ali Siddiqui: And just WHO is slaughtering the civilians in Syria and igniting a civil war to hang onto their positions? Perhaps you should explain what your positions are regarding the regime changes that have occurred in Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt!
Nice work done by Saudi Arabia to call the leaders of Muslim countries and Iranian president is also there. Biggest example of brotherhood !! Muslim Unity is important and Muslims will rise again to rule the world, Insha'ALLAH.
This suspension is very much expected. After Syria it is Pakistan's turn. Just yesterday i had commented in another ET column of such a possibility. Here is the link to my earlier
comments.http://tribune.com.pk/story/422221/if-the-govt-fails-to-act-well-join-the-mqm-hindu-panchayat/
Why OIC is blindly implementing Israeli-American Agenda as if it's a slave organization like UNO. One day these America's slave Muslim rulers will rue this slavery.
What a fair steps taken by OIC member states but, long after the two conflicting sides suffered much hardships. But, it is not only disgaraceful but also astonishing, the reluctance of knowledgeable muslim leaders who, often want to be life-heads. Instead of honourably resiging, to hand over leadership batons to some other capable hands of the nation, result to killing their own nationals..
We are with Saudi Arabi, our best friend and brother. Syrian government has killed thousands of innocent civilians. It must be removed and punished. No stable person or country can support Syrian government.
OIC is in fact American puppet organization. Saudis are playing a completely destructive role in the region. They don’t know that its affects will bounce on them one day.
they should rename this Organsiation of Sunni Islamic Conference. ....
If Iran and Saudi join hands and put their differences aside, this region would be heavenly.
@Ahmed: I wish ppl can understand this.
Saudi+Qatar+Turkey+USA+Al-Qaeda VS Syria+Iran
Muslims countries are playing in the hands of US to destabilize the Muslim Ummah.
After Iraq, Egypt, Syria is in the line of fall.
Tomorrow there will be another Muslim Nations Group which will be destabilizing another Muslim Nation.
Divide and rule is the key policy of the US.
Today's unrest in Syria will not bring any peace after change of present Syrian regime.
The unrest will continue in Syria for a very long time like in Iraq and Egypt. Change of regime in Syria will not make any difference.