Baku hosted a briefing on the International Conference titled “Embracing Diversity: Tackling Islamophobia in 2024.” Chairman of the Board of the Center of Analysis of International Relations Farid Shafiyev gave information about the conference to be held on March 8-9. He said that the conference dedicated to the “International Day to Combat Islamophobia” was being jointly organized by the Baku International Multiculturalism Center, the Center of Analysis of International Relations, the G20 Interfaith Dialogue Forum, and the Baku Initiative Group.

Farid Shafiyev stressed that the conference will be of special importance in terms of conveying the truth about Azerbaijan to the world community. He noted that during the 30-year-long Armenian occupation, as well as during the post-war period, Azerbaijan faced the repercussions of Islamophobia. The Western media and politicians carried out an overtly biased campaign against Azerbaijan. The 2nd Conference on Islamophobia aims at identifying the political, economic, cultural, and discriminatory factors driving Islamophobic tendencies, and identifying a common strategy formula to fight against this trend. According to him, the West’s reluctance to accept the new realities emerging in the South Caucasus region is one of the major reasons behind this smear campaign. Stressing Azerbaijan’s role as a middle power in international relations, Farid Shafiyev underscored that this year, Azerbaijan will host COP29 and several other events of global importance.

Executive Director of Baku International Multiculturalism Center Ravan Hasanov noted that more than 130 international guests, including scientists from 32 countries around the world, experts from international organizations, religious figures, and representatives of non-governmental organizations, are expected to attend the conference. Local experts, representatives of state institutions, religious leaders, and state officials will also attend the conference.

During the 2nd conference on Islamophobia, a platform will be provided for serious discussions, research presentations, and open dialogues. Ravan Hasanov pointed out that Islamophobia is an ideology spread mainly in Western countries. Some forces are trying to realize their insidious goals under the name of Islam. Azerbaijan has always been against religious discrimination, and this policy is underway today. He noted that the goal is to expose the dirty intentions of Western countries regarding Islamophobia. “I think that the upcoming conference will serve as a platform against injustice.”

The speeches were followed by a Q&A session.

To recap, March 15 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 November 27-28, 2020. In 2022, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution declaring March 15 as “International Day to Combat Islamophobia.”