The 12th Session of the Islamic Conference of Information Ministers concluded in Istanbul on Sunday with the adoption of the “Istanbul Declaration.”

Hosted by Türkiye, the conference gathered ministers, senior officials, and media representatives from the 57 member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to address these critical challenges under the theme “Combating Disinformation and Islamophobia in the Post-Truth Era.”

The Istanbul Declaration outlines a strategic framework for OIC nations to counter misinformation and protect the dignity of Islam and Muslim communities worldwide. It calls for short-term crisis communication and fact-checking measures, medium-term policies to bolster resilience against fake news, and long-term investments in media literacy, ethical journalism, and digital content development. The ministers highlighted how disinformation fuels hate speech and religious intolerance, particularly through biased narratives targeting Islam.

A key focus of the declaration was the rising tide of Islamophobia, which the OIC condemned unequivocally. The ministers urged member states to leverage technology and media platforms to promote Islam’s true message of peace and coexistence while exposing campaigns that falsely link the faith to extremism. The declaration also reaffirmed the OIC’s solidarity with the Palestinian people, calling for intensified media efforts to highlight Israeli aggression and support the Palestinian struggle against occupation.

The conference addressed the deliberate destruction of Islamic cultural heritage in non-Muslim countries, especially where Muslim minorities face ethnic cleansing. Media outlets were encouraged to raise global awareness of these violations and advocate for the preservation of Islamic identity.

The establishment of the OIC Media Forum (OMF) was welcomed as a new platform to enhance coordination among Islamic media institutions and counter harmful narratives. The declaration also emphasized support for refugees and displaced persons in the OIC region and commended the OIC Secretary General’s diplomatic efforts to amplify the Islamic world’s voice globally.

Delegates expressed gratitude to Türkiye for its hospitality and leadership in hosting the conference, which they described as a pivotal moment for fostering unity among Muslim nations. The Istanbul Declaration marks a significant step toward a cohesive Islamic media strategy to tackle disinformation and Islamophobia in an increasingly digital world. (ILKHA)