Azerbaijan Emphasizes Multiculturalism at Cairo Conference on Islamophobia

Baku: Azerbaijan highlighted its initiatives to promote interfaith dialogue during the second International Conference to Combat Discrimination Against Islam and Muslims. Multiculturalism is a major direction of state policy in Azerbaijan. The Constitution of Azerbaijan ensures the equality of all citizens regardless of religion, ethnicity, and language, fostering a favorable environment for different religious communities to coexist peacefully and respectfully, said Azerbaijan's representative Ravan Hasanov during the conference held under the theme 'Muslim Communities in the West and their Role in Confronting Islamophobia' in Cairo, the capital of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, Ravan Hasanov noted that local and international projects are consistently implemented in Azerbaijan to promote multiculturalism and interreligious dialogue, combat Islamophobia, and instill values of tolerance among young people. He emphasized that the international conferences dedicated to Islamophobia held annually in Baku since 2023 have significantly contributed to the development of global dialogue in this field.

On the sidelines of the conference, Ravan Hasanov met with Ahmed Nabawi, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs of Egypt. The meeting focused on expanding international cooperation in the fight against Islamophobia, religious discrimination, and hate speech, promoting interfaith dialogue, and implementing joint projects in this direction.

Subsequently, the Azerbaijani representative gave a lecture on "Azerbaijan's model of multiculturalism and the experience of interfaith dialogue" for the staff of the Foreign Relations Department of the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs.