Sardi Mahmudah Wardani, a professor at the Sadra Islamic College in Indonesia, has underscored the importance of economic independence as a foundational step toward achieving unity among Muslim nations.

In an exclusive interview with Taghrib News Agency (TNA) on the sidelines of the opening ceremony of the 39^th International Islamic Unity Conference in Tehran, Wardani noted that the economies of many oil-rich Muslim countries remain deeply intertwined with those of Western nations.

She argued that this dependency has frequently obstructed efforts to build genuine solidarity across the Islamic world.
She expressed concern that some members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) appear to follow Western political agendas.
The expert went on to say that the organization is no longer a symbol of unity among Muslims.
Wardani termed Iran’s consistent hosting of the Conference as an effective initiative in promoting solidarity among Muslim countries.

She condemned the ongoing violence in Gaza, describing it as a humanitarian crisis, noting that supporting the defenseless Gazans is a moral obligation for all nations, regardless of religion.

The 39th Islamic Unity entitled ‘1500th Birth Anniversary of Prophet of Mercy and Islamic Ummah’ is underway in the Iranian capital Tehran on September 8-10, 2025.