On 26 February 2018, a delegation of Permanent Representatives from Turkey, Gambia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Jordan, Pakistan and Bahrain to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Head of OIC’s Department of Muslim Communities and Minorities, paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Virasakdi Futrakul, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand, during their visit to Thailand from 25 February to 5 March 2018 as guests of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand. On this occasion, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs hosted a luncheon in honour of the delegation.

          From 27 February to 1 March 2018, the delegation visited Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala provinces where the delegates met and interacted with locals of various backgrounds – Muslim, Buddhist, Melayu, Chinese, Thai – who live side by side, and exchanged views with government agencies working on the SBPs’ social and economic development as well as security. The delegation also visited a state university and a private Islamic school in Narathiwat, a City Municipality’s public library in Yala, and the Central Mosque of Songkhla where they paid a courtesy call on the Sheikhul Islam of Thailand. Furthermore, the delegation went to the multicultural northern city of Chiang Mai where the delegates attended Friday prayer with local Thai Muslims of South Asian, Chinese and Thai origins in a local mosque.

          Throughout the visit, the delegation expressed their appreciation for the Thai Government’s openness and its efforts in looking after all Thai people regardless of their backgrounds, as well as commended the Thai Government’s policy on economic and social developments and education for the SBPs. The delegation took note that Muslims in Thailand enjoy the right to freedom of religion. The delegation expressed the OIC’s support for the Government’s inclusive dialogue with various groups and called upon all groups to participate in the dialogue. The delegation reiterated that the OIC rejects violence of all kinds and does not support independence or separatist movements. The OIC commended Thailand’s development policy as a role model in taking good care of its Muslim citizens. In this regard, the OIC encouraged Muslim community in the SBPs to cooperate with the Thai Government to further enhance the economic and social development of the region.

          The delegation further commended education development in the SBPs and stressed the importance of Art and Science education and vocational training, along with religious studies, as tools to maximise the potential of the Muslim youth who will be the driving force of the country’s future. The OIC expressed its readiness to support and cooperate with the Thai Government in this regard.