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Mehmet Akarca, Chief Ombudsman and President of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Ombudsman Association, traveled to Tehran to attend the 4th General Assembly and 12th Board of Directors Meeting of the OICOA, which he presides. The program commenced with an opening ceremony attended by Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Eje, Chief Justice of Iran.

In his opening remarks, Chief Ombudsman Mehmet Akarca stated that the OICOA strives to contribute to the protection and promotion of human rights by enhancing cooperation among Islamic Countries in line with the purpose of its establishment.

Emphasizing that the Association strives to contribute to the prevention of human rights violations targeting Muslims by creating awareness all over the world within the scope of the fight against Islamophobia, Chief Auditor Mehmet Akarca noted “In this regard, regular board meetings are held, and as a result of the decisions taken, frequent online training sessions are organized to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and experience. Rapid reactions are given to events that deeply affect the Islamic World, such as the burning of the Quran and the genocide in Gaza, and human rights violations are condemned with published declarations and shared with international organizations. Most recently, the Marrakesh Declaration was accepted in the board meeting held in Morocco regarding the genocide in Gaza and shared with the public.”

“We are representatives of institutions that strive to raise awareness about the importance of human rights in order to uplift and preserve human dignity, and contribute to strengthening rights.”

Chief Ombudsman Mehmet Akarca continued his speech by saying:

“We, as Ombudsmen, are complaint mechanisms that citizens in our countries can directly access. At the same time, we are representatives of institutions that strive to raise awareness about the importance of human rights in order to uplift and preserve human dignity, and that contribute to the strengthening of these rights. We have completed 12 years as the Ombudsman Institution of Türkiye. We receive an average of 15 thousand applications annually. Our priority is to resolve applications amicably. When necessary, we issue recommendations to administrations. The compliance rate with our recommendations is over 70%. Our efforts are not solely focused on complaints. We also work to promote a culture of seeking legal remedies. We organize regional meetings to engage directly with the public. Through Ombudsman Clubs established at universities, we reach out to young people and carry out joint initiatives with them.”

Stating that they prepare special reports on issues that concern the general public and share them with the public, Akarca said that they prepared the special report “Gaza: Nakba of Humanity” and sent it to the International Court of Justice in The Hague, the International Criminal Court, as well as to all international organizations and Ombudsmen to constitute evidence.

Emphasizing the importance they place on international cooperation, Mr. Akarca also highlighted that, apart from the OICOA, they are members of eight different international networks.

Chief Ombudsman Mr. Akarca Visited the General Inspection Organization of Iran

Mehmet Akarca, Chief Ombudsman and President of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Ombudsman Association, visited the General Inspection Organization of Iran, along with Ombudsman Ertunç Erkan Balta and the Board Members of the Association.

During the visit, they received information about the activities, particularly the use of artificial intelligence and technology. Mr. Akarca also provided insights into the mandate, authority, and operations of the Ombudsman Institution of Türkiye.