OIC foreign ministers open 52nd session in Baghdad; Türkiye hands chair to Iraq
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation's Council of Foreign Ministers began a two-day session in Baghdad on 17 October. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan attended and handed the chairmanship to Iraq.
1 / 2
The story, neutrally told
Centre · 2The 52nd session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) began in Baghdad on Saturday 17 October, a two-day meeting held under the theme "Dialogue and Solidarity: Two Essential Pillars for Promoting Peace and Sustainable Development". Anadolu AgencyN “The 52nd session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) began in the Iraqi capital Baghdad on Saturday.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ The NationalN “Foreign ministers of member states attended the first day of the two-day meeting” Read at The National ↗ Centre · 1The National reported it is the first time in 45 years that the meeting is being held in the Iraqi capital. The NationalN “which is being held in the Iraq capital for the first time in 45 years” Read at The National ↗ Centre · 1Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, announced the day before as attending, took part and, according to the Turkish Foreign Ministry, handed the chairmanship of the Council of Foreign Ministers to Iraq; Türkiye had held the rotating chairmanship since June 2025. Anadolu AgencyN “Türkiye has held the rotating chairmanship since June 2025.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Anadolu AgencyN “Fidan attended the meeting and handed over the Chairmanship of the Council of Foreign Ministers to Iraq, the ministry noted.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗
Centre · 2Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi opened the meeting, calling for greater joint action on regional and international crises, reaffirming that the Palestinian issue is at the core of the regional conflict, and thanking Pakistan for its efforts to defuse tensions. Anadolu AgencyN “Iraqi Prime Minister Ali Faleh al-Zaidi opened the meeting, according to the Iraqi News Agency (INA).” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ The NationalN “he thanked Pakistan for its efforts to defuse tension and urged OIC member states to follow suit.” Read at The National ↗ Centre · 2Al-Zaidi announced an Iraqi initiative to integrate energy grids, railways, transport and digital communications among OIC countries, including digital payment systems and trade platforms. Anadolu AgencyN “He announced an Iraqi initiative aimed at integrating energy grids, railway networks, transportation and digital communications among OIC countries” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ The NationalN “The development of a digital payment system and trade platforms will also form part of the initiative.” Read at The National ↗ Centre · 1Before the meeting, Anadolu said Fidan was expected to stress that Israel's policies are the greatest security threat in the Middle East, call for a united OIC stance, back a two-state solution and unhindered aid to Gaza, and condemn Houthi attacks while reaffirming solidarity with Saudi Arabia. It also said he would raise Syria, Lebanon, the Strait of Hormuz, and Turkish Cypriots and Turkish minorities in Western Thrace and the Dodecanese. Anadolu AgencyN “Fidan is expected to stress that Israel's aggression and expansionist policies remain the greatest security threat in the Middle East.”“Fidan is further expected to strongly condemn Houthi attacks targeting civilians and critical infrastructure and reaffirm Türkiye's solidarity with Saudi Arabia.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗
Centre · 1On the sidelines, Fidan met Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty and Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein; the Turkish ministry gave no further details. Anadolu AgencyN “Türkiye's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdelatty and top Iraqi diplomat Fuad Hussein in Baghdad on Saturday, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said.”“The ministry did not provide further details about the meetings.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Centre · 1The National reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who arrived early on Saturday, also met Fidan and Abdelatty and said Iran was ready to help end the conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis, adding that a military solution was not an option in Yemen. The NationalN “He held meetings with the foreign ministers of Turkey and Egypt, Hakan Fidan and Badr Abdelatty, on the sidelines of the meeting.”“a military solution was not an option to end the years-long civil war in Yemen.” Read at The National ↗ Centre · 1OIC Secretary General Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed called the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia a "flagrant violation of the kingdom's sovereignty and of the sanctity of the Islamic holy sites" and said he would work to activate the OIC's mediation unit. The NationalN “He said he would work to "strengthen preventive diplomacy and to activate the OIC's mediation unit" to put an end to the crisis.” Read at The National ↗
Centre · 1The meeting was expected to address Israel's attacks on Gaza and other crises, and, per Anadolu's preview, to conclude with a "Baghdad Declaration"; its outcome was not yet reported. Anadolu AgencyN “The meeting is expected to conclude with the adoption of the "Baghdad Declaration."” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Anadolu AgencyN “is expected to address Israel's ongoing attacks in Gaza and developments in other conflict zones across the Islamic world.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Anadolu Agency (Turkish state-run) frames the meeting through Türkiye's role and Fidan's expected positions, with strong language on Israel; The National gives a regional-diplomacy account stressing the Houthi–Saudi crisis and Iran's offer to help.
- Emphasis
- Anadolu: Fidan's agenda, the handover to Iraq, Palestine, Turkish minorities. The National: Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, Araghchi's meetings, Iraq's first hosting in 45 years.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Anadolu's reports do not mention Araghchi's meetings or Iran's offer on the Houthis; The National does not mention the chairmanship handover or the planned Baghdad Declaration.
- Charged language
- “Israel's ongoing genocidal policies in Gaza”“Israel's aggression and expansionist policies”“unjust isolation”
- For example
-
“The meeting is expected to address Israel's ongoing genocidal policies in Gaza, its occupation and annexation activities across Palestine” — Anadolu Agency
“is among those to attend the meeting, having arrived in Baghdad early on Saturday.” — The National
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- The OIC's 52nd Council of Foreign Ministers session began in Baghdad on 17 October for two days.
- The theme is "Dialogue and Solidarity: Two Essential Pillars for Promoting Peace and Sustainable Development".
- Iraq takes over the OIC rotating chairmanship from Türkiye.
- Israel's attacks on Gaza and regional crises are on the agenda.
Hakan Fidan person
Fidan was expected to press for a united OIC stance against Israel's policies, a two-state solution, and condemnation of Houthi attacks; he met Egyptian, Iraqi and Iranian counterparts.
“He is also expected to emphasize the need for OIC member states to demonstrate a united stance in response to Israel's actions” — Anadolu Agency
“Fidan attended the meeting and handed over the Chairmanship of the Council of Foreign Ministers to Iraq, the ministry noted.” — Anadolu Agency
Organisation of Islamic Cooperation organisation
The OIC, through Secretary General Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, condemned the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and pledged to activate its mediation unit.
“He said he would work to "strengthen preventive diplomacy and to activate the OIC's mediation unit" to put an end to the crisis.” — The National
Baghdad place
Baghdad hosts the session; Iraq's prime minister presented the city as the "cradle of civilisation, science, thought and history" and Iraq as a host taking over the presidency.
“The meeting is being held in Baghdad because it is "the cradle of civilisation, science, thought and history", he added.” — The National
“Iraq took over the OIC’s rotating presidency from Türkiye during the meeting.” — Anadolu Agency
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre6 articles
-
Turkish foreign minister to attend Muslim bloc OIC meeting in Baghdad
Neutral Preview built on Turkish Foreign Ministry sources, detailing Fidan's expected positions and OIC background, with strong language on Israel.
-
OIC foreign ministers meet in Baghdad for 52nd session
Neutral Short report of the session's start citing the Iraqi Foreign Ministry spokesman.
-
OIC foreign ministers discuss regional crises, cooperation at Baghdad meeting
Neutral Reports the opening and Iraqi PM al-Zaidi's speech and initiative, sourced to the Iraqi News Agency.
-
Show 2 moreShow fewer
-
Turkish foreign minister meets counterparts in Baghdad
Neutral Short report of Fidan's sideline meetings and the chairmanship handover, citing the Turkish ministry.
-
OIC foreign ministers meet in Baghdad as regional crises top agenda
Neutral Regional news account foregrounding the Houthi–Saudi crisis, the OIC secretary general's remarks and Iran's role.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 16 Oct 11:22 First Anadolu AgencyN Turkish foreign minister to attend Muslim bloc OIC meeting in Baghdad
- 17 Oct 08:20 +20h 58m Anadolu AgencyN OIC foreign ministers meet in Baghdad for 52nd session
- 17 Oct 08:20 +20h 58m Anadolu AgencyN OIC foreign ministers discuss regional crises, cooperation at Baghdad meeting
- 17 Oct 09:03 +21h 41m Anadolu AgencyN Turkish, Egyptian foreign ministers meet in Baghdad
- 17 Oct 09:03 +21h 41m Anadolu AgencyN Turkish foreign minister meets counterparts in Baghdad
- 17 Oct 14:06 +26h 44m The NationalN OIC foreign ministers meet in Baghdad as regional crises top agenda
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
Ask about this story
Loading…