Welcoming Oman’s participation in the Islamic coalition

Oman’s decision to join the coalition of Muslim countries is a significant one for the region. Oman has become the 41st country to join the coalition.

By doing so, it also joined the Gulf Cooperation Council countries’ (GCC) consensus in this field. This sets a precedence for Oman to participate in military alliances – that is if we exclude the Peninsula Shield Force.

However, there was more joy when Oman announced that it will participate in the Islamic coalition as Oman’s isolation from the Gulf’s common challenges may raise societies’ worries.

In the statement announcing its participation, Oman emphasized Saudi Arabia’s leading role in the region and which aims to fight terrorism, protect countries’ independence and support sovereignty.

It is normal for the people in the Gulf countries to rejoice over Oman’s participation in the coalition as Oman is a brotherly country and the good Omani people are our brothers.

In solidarity

Working together is better than working alone and fighting terrorism must be a priority for Muslim countries considering the rising Islamophobia and hostility toward Islam.

Muslims and terrorists are often considered synonymous despite the fact that it is the miniscule number of Muslims who get swayed by biased interpretations of faith and resort to violence spreading hatred among people.

The world is raging and terrorism is escalating all over the globe. Unfortunately, all this is being done in the name of Islam. However, Islam is innocent from all this violence.

This article was first published in Okaz on January 02, 2016.
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Turki Aldakhil is the General Manager of Al Arabiya News Channel. He began his career as a print journalist, covering politics and culture for the Saudi newspapers Okaz, Al-Riyadh and Al-Watan. He then moved to pan-Arab daily Al-Hayat and pan-Arab news magazine Al-Majalla. Turki later became a radio correspondent for the French-owned pan-Arab Radio Monte Carlo and MBC FM. He proceeded to Elaph, an online news magazine and Alarabiya.net, the news channel’s online platform. Over a ten-year period, Dakhil’s weekly Al Arabiya talk show “Edaat” (Spotlights) provided an opportunity for proponents of Arab and Islamic social reform to make their case to a mass audience. Turki also owns Al Mesbar Studies and Research Centre and Madarek Publishing House in Dubai. He has received several awards and honors, including the America Abroad Media annual award for his role in supporting civil society, human rights and advancing women’s roles in Gulf societies. He tweets @TurkiAldakhil.