Baku fights against Islamophobia

Geneva: 14 March 2024
The international scientific conference themed “Embracing Diversity: Tackling Islamophobia in 2024” has concluded in Baku the capital of the Republic of Azerbaijan. 

Organized by the Baku International Center for Multiculturalism, in partnership with the G20 Center for Interreligious Dialogue and the Azerbaijan Policy Analysis Center, the two-day conference  (8-9 March 2024) brought together more than 130 representatives of scientists, Think-tank , dignitaries, scholars , media , experts of international organizations, religious leaders and non-governmental organizations from 32 countries.

The Conference’s opening session was marked by a reading of the address of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev, who addressed the international community, highlighting Azerbaijan’s advanced role in standing against the active extremist currents that manifest Islamophobia in the West.

The two-day conference culminated with the adoption of the Joint Communique Report .

This is the second conference which was organized in Azerbaijan with the aim of contributing to combating Islamophobia in all its forms and manifestations, protection of diversity and fight against Islamophobia.

In this regard, the conference participants, recalling the resolution 12408 (2022) adopted by the UN General Assembly proclaiming 15 March as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, emphasized that Islamophobia had emerged and developed as a new form of racism that includes, among others, discrimination, stigmatization and exclusion in all areas of life.

The participants of the conference discussed matters of intersectional approach in the fight against Islamophobia and coordinated efforts to promote tolerance, peace and respect for human rights and religious diversity, problems emanating from the theory on “the clash of civilizations”, narratives on conspiracies, digital Islamophobia and discrimination in higher education.

The conference reiterated the primary responsibility of international organizations and national governments to expand the existing legal instruments and policy measures which are not enough to counter stereotypes about Islam and Muslims.

The participants agreed to further enhance cooperation and collaboration in the area of combating Islamophobia in two main directions – at the political level and through public advocacy; and at the media and academic level through launching programs and projects to tackle discriminatory narratives.

15 March was designated as the “International Day to Combat Islamophobia” at the session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM), held in Niamey, Niger, on 27-28 November 2020. In 2022, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring March 15 as “International Day to Combat Islamophobia”.