Baku: President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has openly criticized the crimes committed against Islamic cultural heritage on Azerbaijani lands, describing them as a clear manifestation of Islamophobia. In his address to the 20th Session of the Conference of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States, he highlighted the escalating issue of Islamophobia worldwide.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, President Aliyev emphasized that the incitement of hatred against Muslims and the targeting of Islamic cultural heritage have gained widespread momentum globally. He pointed out that Islamophobia extends beyond mere intolerance towards Muslims, identifying it as a dangerous trend that undermines mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence.

Furthermore, President Aliyev expressed regret over the role of certain political circles in the West and international institutions, such as the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, in promoting anti-Islamic sentiments. He criticized these bodies for attempting to equate Islam with extremism and terrorism, creating biased perceptions, and portraying Islam as a threat.