Omdurman: “PUIC” Correspondent:
His Excellency the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of the Sudan Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim Al-Tahir advocated moulding the PUIC into a nucleus of Islamic consensus on major issues of concern to the Islamic Ummah and the entire world.
In his interview with the “PUIC” he exhorted Muslim states to deploy maximum efforts in order to achieve success of our parliamentary Union.
Concerning incessant Israeli aggression on Gaza His Excellency stressed that “this  situation necessitates further  rapprochement and solidarity among Muslim States as well as policy coordination.”
He called for taking steps to rally our forces in the Middle East region and build up Muslim Security. He maintained that Muslim Security is a necessity and a duty for all Muslims. He expressed his conviction that such security will guarantee stability of the Islamic World, and deter Israeli aggression on any Muslim State. “Furthermore it will ensure total cooperation between Muslim States in major issues,” Mr. Tahir reiterated.

In his office located on the upper floor of the National Assembly building in Omdurman city, Republic of the Sudan, overlooking the confluence of the White Nile and the Blue Nile, whose waters flow side by side before they merge and form the River Nile to begin the long, tortuous and immortal journey northward… the “PUIC” met with His Excellency the Speaker of the Assembly Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim Al Tahir, and sounded his views on some PUIC issues of concern.
Following are the excerpts:

“PUIC”: Mr. Speaker, thank you for allowing the “PUIC” to talk to you about the concerns of our Union. How do you evaluate PUIC development over the past twelve years of its history?

Speaker: In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. At the outset, I thank you for visiting the National Assembly.  In fact we are following up the development of the PUIC work. The Sudan is among the founders of the Union. Indeed the Sudanese Parliament proposed in late Nineties the establishment of the PUIC. The idea was roundly accepted by Islamic States, primarily the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Iran, Arab Republic of Egypt, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Republic of Turkey… etc. I believe that the Sudan is much concerned with the success of the PUIC.
In comparison with similar other Unions, the PUIC, not withstanding its relatively young age, has been in the forefront of regional parliamentary unions. It has been established on asound basis. Its meetings are regular; its subjects for discussion are relevant; work within the Executive Committee, the General Committee (Council) and the Conference is well organized; participation of PUIC members in this work is satisfactory. This is why we maintain that the PUIC is ahead of other unions in which we participate. This is a matter worthy of commendation.
However, we expect much more from the PUIC. We do not mean to carry out comparison with other regional parliamentary unions or groups. The real objectives that the union must realize, inter alia, is to furnish the ground for a relationship between its members that is rooted in the appellation that brings together its members in one body, ie. The Islamic designation. That is being the aim, it is incumbent on us to work, as Muslim States, to achieve the success of the PUIC in order to serve as the nucleus of Islamic consensus on the major issues of concern to the Islamic domain and the entire world. I believe that we have a long distance to cover, much effort to be deployed before we reach our goals. Because the objective is colossal, so we must act with greater enthusiasm and preparedness.
We really exhort the PUIC to proceed along this long road.

“PUIC”: Your Excellency has underlined the long road ahead for the Union. What, in your view, is the mechanism that will effectively energize the resolutions adopted by the PUIC Organs?

Speaker: Implementation of resolutions is one of the problems facing the Union. This particular problem emanates from the differences of the political systems of the states of the PUIC Member Parliaments. It is also influenced by the nature of relations between these states. In such a situation minor issues are apt to be paramount over major ones. Furthermore, some states are more wary of taking bigger positive strides. I believe the matter is not the responsibility of the PUIC. It is rather the responsibility of the PUIC membership. We have to open up to each other. We have to trust each other more than we do now. We have to seek a common basis for achieving our objectives to which we aspire.
I believe the mechanism may be the Union and its implementing organs. Therefore we must strengthen the PUIC Executive Committee as well as the General Committee. This is very important. PUIC members ought to extend all possible means to enhance the PUIC organs to enable them to optimally perform their tasks.

“PUIC”: Concerning the dialogue between Islamic and Western Parliaments, do you perceive any benefit therefrom?

Speaker: Of course there is an opportunity for dialogue between the two sides. Parliamentary action is a mechanism for dialogue between Muslim and Western States. In my view such dialogue may help to overcome several problems and areas of tension between the two sides. It may generate a kind of mental proximity in some issues. This is why I always encourage meetings between Islamic and Western Parliaments.

“PUIC”: This interview may be published after sometime. Now the most significant development in the region is the Israeli savage aggression on the Palestinian people in Gaza Strip and the resulting massacre and devastation. We are of the view that the Islamic world could have been more effective in this case. In your opinion, what could have been done, especially in the political domain?

Speaker: Indeed the cause of Palestine and Al-Quds Al Sharif is the focal cause for which we ought to deploy all our efforts. It is the essence of problems in the region. I may say that it is behind the state of general weakness which afflicts the entire area. It is also behind the feeling of disgrace. The Zionist presence in the region which is reinforced by the power of the West, seeks to perpetuate this state of feebleness. The aim is to maintain the security of Israel.
I believe any disregard of the Palestinian cause will not only delay its resolution but will render it more complicated.
The political developments which took place in the region caused anxiety inside Israel.
The aggression on Gaza is an expression of this anxiety. This situation necessitates further rapprochement and solidarity among Muslim States in the region as well as policy coordination. This is apt to thwart the intentions of Israeli aggression.  I advocate, therefore, any steps to rally our forces in the area and build up our Muslim security. Muslim security is a necessity and a duty for all of us. If Israel is keen on maintaining what it claims as its national security, we must make preparations to create Muslim collective security. This Security will guarantee stability of the Islamic World and deter Israeli aggression on any Muslim State. Furthermore it will ensure total cooperation between Muslim States in major issues.

“PUIC”: There is anecessity to support and assist Muslims in non-Muslim countries so that they may live in dignity and enjoy their rights as citizens without pressure or suppression, as the recent case of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar shows. Don’t you think we ought to be more active in this field?

Speaker: Of Course this is a humanitarian issue first and foremost. It also impacts world peace and universal consensual rights. The rights and freedoms of all minorities everywhere ought to be respected. No one in the world will deny this. However, we, as Muslims, are demanded to remove any injustice that befalls our Muslim brethren anywhere in the world as enjoined by  the Holy Quran, We are exhorted to support each other.
Concerning our brothers in Myanmar, or for that matter Muslim minorities in the world, we must sensitize all nations to their plight and the massacres to which they are subjected. Pressure must brought to bear on the government of Myanmar to remove injustice against the Rohyngia Muslims, and restore their rights. Otherwise, further pressure must be exercised on the state of Myanmar until it respects religious minorities in its territory.