Many cases of Islamophobia are observed in France, Executive Director of the Baku International Multiculturalism Center Ravan Hasanov said, Trend reports.

He made the remark at the international conference on “Islamophobia as a Specific Form of Racism and Discrimination: New Global and Transnational Challenges”.

“Society must fight Islamophobia. In France, we observe many cases of Islamophobia. There are currently 5 million Muslims living there. Islam is marginalized in some societies, and this is one of the main reasons that lays the foundations for religious discrimination,” he said.

On March 15-16, the Baku International Multiculturalism Center (BIMC), the Center of Analysis of International Relations (AIR Center) and the G20 Interfaith Forum are organizing an international conference dedicated to the International Day to Combat Islamophobia themed “Islamophobia as a Specific Form of Racism and Discrimination: New Global and Transnational Challenges”.

The main purpose of the conference is to provide for an academic discussion platform on the alarming trends targeting Muslims and Muslim-populated countries at international and national levels.

The conference, bringing together scientists, experts of international organizations, religious figures and representatives of non-governmental organizations from 32 countries, is featuring discussions on different approaches in the fight against Islamophobia, manifestation of Islamophobia in some European countries, Islamophobia in the international media.

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”.

Source: Trend News Agency