Beyond the Majority: Dr. Abdul Razak Ahmad on the Rights and Contributions of Muslim Minorities

In this speech delivered at the 5th International Symposium on Islamic Culture and Civilization on 8 May 2026, our Founding Director, Dr. Abdul Razak Ahmad, explores the essential role of minorities as partners in national development. Moving beyond academic theory, Dr. Razak highlights the significant commercial and intellectual contributions of Muslim communities in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, while issuing a sobering call to action regarding the persecution of the Rohingya and the ongoing struggles in Southern Thailand and Mindanao. He concludes by proposing a new international framework to combat Islamophobia and calling for a dedicated global research center to be co-hosted by Malaysia and Turkey.

Symposium Speech at the 5th International Symposium on Islamic Culture and Civilization

Dr. Abdul Razak Ahmad

8 May 2026

Distinguished guests, respected scholars, colleagues, and friends,

It is a great honour to be with all of you here today at this important symposium on Muslim Minorities.

This is not merely an academic discussion. It is not simply a question of demographics or identity. Nor is it only a matter concerning one particular community.

It is, above all, a question of justice, coexistence, and the kind of societies we aspire to build.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We often hear that democracy is defined by majority rule.

But a true, enduring democracy is ultimately defined by how it treats its minorities.

Protecting the rights of minorities is not about granting privilege to a few. It is about safeguarding dignity, ensuring equality, and affirming our shared humanity.

And let us be clear: Muslim minority communities are not passive recipients of this protection. They are active contributors to the societies in which they live.

In Sri Lanka, Muslims comprise roughly ten percent of the population. Yet for generations, they have been among the country's most prominent trading communities, engaged in commerce, retail, and enterprise at a scale far exceeding their demographic share.

In Malaysia, the Indian Muslim community forms a vital thread in our national fabric.

From commerce to education, from civic leadership to social development, their contributions span generations and touch every corner of our national life.

Across Southeast Asia, communities of Arab descent, particularly those with roots in the Hadhramaut region of Yemen, have shaped the intellectual and commercial landscape of this region for centuries.

Our Islamic institutions, our scholarly traditions, our early trading networks, many bear their enduring influence.

Thus, minorities are not liabilities to nations. They are partners in development, in stability, and in progress.

Distinguished guests,

Minority rights are fundamentally human rights.

Yet in many parts of the world, Muslim minorities continue to struggle not only to preserve their identities and traditions, but at times even their very existence.

The Rohingya people of Myanmar are widely regarded as among the most persecuted ethnic groups in the world, having for decades faced denial of citizenship, displacement, and violence on a devastating scale, forcing hundreds of thousands from their homes and into camps across the region.

Closer to home, the Malay-Pattani community in southern Thailand has endured more than two decades of conflict, while longstanding issues concerning identity, language, and meaningful autonomy remain unresolved.

In Mindanao, the Bangsamoro peace process, one in which Malaysia played a role as facilitator, gave rise to a historic agreement that led to the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

But agreements alone are not enough. Their true measure lies in implementation, in good governance, and in justice delivered.

From Myanmar to Thailand to Mindanao, these are not isolated cases, they are a continuing moral failure that demands sustained international attention.

In this context, I wish to acknowledge the vital role of organisations like the IHH, the Humanitarian Relief Foundation, whose work embodies what it means to truly stand with Muslim minorities in their most difficult moments.

In Pattani and Mindanao, IHH has been present not only as a provider of humanitarian relief, but as a bridge-builder and mediator, helping to ease the conflict and restore dignity to communities long marginalised.

Across the Muslim world, IHH has time and again stepped forward where states have hesitated, acting as true defenders of peace and coexistence.

Their work is a reminder that the protection of minority rights cannot rest on governments alone, it requires the commitment of civil society, of faith-based organisations, and of individuals who refuse to look away.

​Ladies and Gentlemen,

We cannot speak of the rights of Muslim minorities without also addressing the rise of Islamophobia.

Islamophobia is not merely a matter of prejudice or social hostility.

It is a structural challenge that can erode dignity, restrict participation, and weaken the rights and security of Muslim minorities within their own societies.

I therefore call upon all countries, especially Western and non-Muslim-majority states, to consider endorsing the Granada Declaration on Combatting Islamophobia and Antisemitism (2025) as a framework for addressing Islamophobia and protecting the dignity and rights of Muslim communities globally.

At the same time, I believe the moment has also come for Muslim leaders themselves to take greater ownership of this cause.

The Marrakesh Declaration on the Rights of Religious Minorities in Predominantly Muslim Majority Communities (2016) was a landmark: a call, rooted in Islamic principles, for the protection of religious minorities living within Muslim-majority lands.

Now, we need a corresponding declaration focused specifically on the protection of Muslim minorities in non-Muslim and secular contexts.

One that makes clear our collective commitment to stand with these communities, advocate on their behalf, and hold states accountable when they fail them.

And beyond declarations, we need institutions.

I also call upon the international community to seriously consider the establishment of a dedicated centre on global Muslim minorities, one mandated to collect data, conduct research, and advocate for the rights of these communities across the world.

It is my hope that Malaysia and Turkey, given their standing and shared commitment, could consider co-hosting such an initiative.

Distinguished guests,

No society can truly prosper while segments of its population remain excluded from opportunity and participation.

When minorities are denied access to education, healthcare, employment, or political representation, nations diminish their own human potential.

Inclusive societies, by contrast, unlock the talents, creativity, and contributions of all their citizens.

And this is why inclusion is not merely an ethical aspiration.

It is a prerequisite for peace, prosperity, and sustainable development.

We must therefore move beyond passive tolerance toward meaningful inclusion and active protection, ensuring that minority rights are not only recognised in law but also upheld in practice.

Let us remember that the greatness of a society is not measured by the power of its majority.

It is measured by the inclusivity of its freedom.

Thank you.