The Secretary General of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Prof. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, met today in Chicago City, USA with Muslim American leaders on the sidelines of the Islam and Muslims in America Conference, which was held at the American – Islamic College in 28 – 30, 2010. The conference marked the inauguration of the American – Islamic College (AIC), the first college in the United States to provide educational programs within an Islamic framework and philosophical orientation.

The conference served as a platform to discuss issues that pertain to Islam and Muslims in the United States from a variety of viewpoints. Topics of discussions included the role of OIC and the scope for its relations with American Muslims, American foreign policy and the Muslim World, Islam in the American context and discussions surrounding the future of the Muslim community in the United States. At the official level, the conference was attended by Ambassador Rashad Hussain, the Special Envoy of the White House to the OIC, and Ambassador Sada Cumber, First U.S. Special Envoy to the OIC and a prominent businessman in the United States.

The Secretary General described the conference as an important first-time meeting that bring Muslim American leaders together in order to discuss way and means to improve the conditions of Muslims in the United States, and to invest heavily on the Muslim American youths who will be leading and representing the Muslim communities in America in the near future. He called on all Muslims in the United States to get involved in all aspects of American life, including the economic and political processes at the local and national levels.

Prof. Ihsanoglu told the Muslim American leaders that they should be independent and not count on the OIC on issues related of domestic nature. He stressed the fact the OIC is an internationally intergovernmental organization, which can merely play a role of facilitator, but will not be involved in domestic affairs. He also stressed that Muslims in the United States need to work hard on education, be moderate, and to assimilate with all Americans of all faiths. In this context, the Secretary General told the Muslim American leaders that Muslims in the United States should be contributing positively to all aspects of life in America, and to respect the rules and regulations of this great nation in accordance with the American constitution.

In conclusion, the Secretary General wished Muslims in the United States success in their endeavor to become active communities at both the local and national levels.