Referring to the recent cartoon crisis triggered by the publication in European newspapers, OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, urged Muslim countries to increase their efforts to contain the rise of ‘Islamophobia’ in Europe, according to information made available to Arab News here on Thursday.

“Both the efforts to associate Islam with intolerance and violence, and also the violent reaction of Muslims concern us deeply,” said Turkish President Necdet Sezer, also referring to the blasphemous cartoon crisis.

Besides the two leaders, Prime Minister Tayeb Erdogan and the Turkish Parliament speaker Bulent Arinc addressed delegates from the parliaments of OIC member states. "The Islamic world faces many serious challenges in the political, economical, social and cultural arenas. Our peace, security and welfare depend on how we will act together on those challenges,” the OIC secretary general said.