Islamic states to “officially object” to .islam

The Organization for Islamic Cooperation has decided to “file an official objection to the use of gTLDs .Islam and .Halal”, following a summit of 56 foreign ministers.

In a resolution (pdf) from the OIC’s high-level summit in Guinea this week, the organization also said it will become “an effective member” of ICANN, closely monitoring its work.

As previously reported, ICANN’s Governmental Advisory Committee was unable to reach a consensus to object to .islam and .halal, leaving it to ICANN’s board of directors to decide whether to approve them.

The OIC’s resolution is expected to become an important input to that decision-making process, after GAC chair Heather Dryden asked ICANN to take note of the Guinea meeting’s output.

The resolution also calls for the OIC to investigate how to run its own Islamic gTLDs.

The OIC has of course missed the boat by several months if it wants to file an objection to these gTLDs within the rules of the new gTLD program.

Instead, it’s going to have to hope that its entreaties to the ICANN board will be effective.

Tweet

Tagged: .halal, .islam, asia green, gac, ICANN, new gTLDs, oic