Concept about United Muslim Organisation by
Mr. Manzur Ahmad in 1998.
Then again FIST introduced in March 2006 by him.
Mr. Manzur Ahmad
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FIST
Federation of Islamic States & Territories
What does FIST stand for?
FIST is the abbreviation of Federation of Islamic States & Territories
FIST means five-five fingers of a hand closed together to appear as one
FIST is also a gesture of Unity, Strength & Determination
FIST, meaning five, also rests on five pillars of Islam
What do we mean by Federation of Islamic States & Territories
Federation mean group, alliance, partnership, association, amalgamation
Islamic States means all independent Islamic countries irrespective of their form of government and
Territories include all those areas where Muslims are in majority but have yet to gain independence such as Arakan, Chechnya, Kashmir, Moroland and Palestine.
FIST- Proposed Preliminary Set Up
Where should it be based?
There should be a permanent secretariat. The ideal place for it is Makkah, Saudi Arabia, where non-Muslims are not allowed by the dictates of the holy Qur’an.
Its formation
General Assembly of FIST
Each member country shall have a resident permanent representative in the General Assembly. All other areas where Muslims live in large numbers but are in minority must get observer status. However, observers must always be known Muslims of the area they represent.
- State representatives must be elected by their respective parliament, Majlis-e-Shura or such national body that formulates laws of the land.
- The electing bodies must make sure that their representative for the FIST Assembly is
- Educated practicing Muslim
- Committed to the mission of FIST
- Has adequate knowledge about the Muslim world
- Keeps a close watch on international affairs
- He is fully conversant with Arabic and English languages.
State representatives shall appoint a full time Secretary General.
- The office of the Secretary General shall ensure the implementation of the decisions of the General Assembly.
- Appoint committees of experts in various fields. Nominations for such committees must be approved by the Assembly.
Funding
The expense of the permanent representative and his staff and office are the responsibility of the state concerned.
All other expenses including running expenses of the Assembly must be met out of the contributions by the member states according to their per capita income. Rich countries should, however, come forward with larger contribution to facilitate smooth functioning of FIST.
Information
In order for Muslims to be better informed about their brethren in other parts of the world following institutions must be established.
- A satellite television network connecting all member states
- A FIST news agency with offices in all member states and major international capitals.
- A research and publishing house to collect data about Muslims in every walk of life so that, wherever possible, even mega projects in any member state may be handled by Muslims.
Foreign Affairs
All matters of foreign affairs, outside FIST, such as response to territorial violation, intervention, restrictive trade barriers, religious slur, must be decided by the General Assembly for uniform action.
Trade & Industry
- All Muslim states must promote trade amongst themselves.
- There should be no duties on goods exported or imported within the federation. The present set up of OIC backed offices of Islamic Chambers of Commerce should be extended to every member of FIST and be incentive based to promote trade between the member states.
- Incentives must be given to setting up of industries that eliminate dependence on non FIST countries with special emphasis on:
- Indigenous heavy machinery for mining, oil and gas drilling, construction, road building, agriculture etc.
- Complete manufacture of motor vehicles, motor cycles, car, pick ups, trucks and buses.
- Defence equipment from small armament to building of tanks, fighter jets, naval craft, submarines etc.
- Short range passenger aircraft, small aircraft? for surveillance and spray
- Ship breaking and building of commercial ships, oil and gas tankers.
- Solar energy
- Setting up of industries must be encouraged and assisted in countries where there is low per capita income in order to create employment for poor and to keep the cost of production competitive with outsiders.
- High Tech and specialist industries may only be initially set up where expertise has already been demonstrated.
Finance
Central Reserve Bank of FIST should be created with the following functions:
- It should act as reserve bank for member states.
- It should take over all loans due to international agencies such as the World Bank, the IMF, Asian Development Bank etc.
- It should, in due course, transfer all state loans from non FIST countries also so that member states are not subjugated to outside financial obligations and pressure
- Provide guidance for gradual transformation to riba free economies
- Work towards introducing common currency as soon as possible.
- Arrange trade financing and settlements
Employment
The following order of employment must be followed in all cases of hiring of individuals by member states;
- Native Muslim
- Muslim from FIST states
- Muslim from non-Muslim states
Similarly member states must give preference to companies from within FIST over outsiders when awarding contracts.
Tourism
In order to create a harmonious society, arrangement must be made for quick visa and discount travel facilities for citizens of member states for travel within member states. Visa restrictions must, in due course, be abolished for Muslims altogether.
Defence
FIST has to undertake security and defence of all its member states against any foreign aggression.
- It must, therefore, immediately start work to raise common defence forces that may have
- A Central Command and four regional command centers;
- South Asian Command
- Central Asian command
- Middle Eastern Command
- African Command
Different states should pledge forces that may be available at times of need.
A common strategy must be worked out in order to fence off outer borders of the union with latest missile technology so that aggression from outside may be discouraged.
Disaster management
Each country to allocate medical and emergency staff and equipment to fly to areas where emergency assistance is needed such as in the case of floods and earthquakes.
It should include:
- A number of doctors, nurses and paramedics
- Medical equipment and medicine and other medical supplies
- Tents and Prefab housing equipment
- Bedding, blankets
- Water cans/bottles
- Foodstuff and clothing
- Ambulances, Helicopters and aero planes.
Wafaq-e- Islami may be given as FIST’s Arabic name, abbreviated as WI, it could easily be designed to read ALLAH in Arabic and used as federal monogram.