Collective and international efforts to fight Islamophobia are expected to reduce its negative impacts on social life based on tolerance and peaceful coexistence
The 11th Islamophobia Observatory Report 2017-18 of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) describes a decreasing trend of Islamophobia.
The trend was measured in terms of number of incidents, and in comparison it was seen that the number was much lower to those at the last trimester of 2016, or at the first trimester of 2017.
According to the news outlet Daily Sabah, the report, which covers the period from July 2017 to April 2018, will be presented at the 45th Council of Foreign Ministers Conference on May 5-6 in Dhaka.
The report highlights the declining trends of “Islamophobia, intolerance, and discrimination against Muslims” in the US and Europe. The categories, which always topped the Hotspot List, now indicate noteworthy improvement despite the remaining “worrisome” overall situation.
According to Daily Sabah, the positive trends were assessed and essentially driven by considering four factors, namely: the failure of racist policies in the United States and the breaks within Trump’s far-right inner circle; the consensus and unilateral settlement of the “immigrant issue” in Europe; the defeat of far-right political parties at European elections, and the growing trend of inter-faith dialogue in Europe and the US.
However, the report reveals “manifestations of Islamophobia around the world,” and describes a general trend of fear against Islam and its “attire,” which is not necessarily regional or geographical in terms of character, with particular focus on “Islamophobic gestures and policies against veils, the hijab and burqa.”
The report also highlights some “positive developments” based on “actions, attitudes, sentiments, initiatives as well as other steps and positions” taken by governments or by non-Muslim individuals against Islamophobes.
The report delineates a set of recommendations – steps and actions – for the OIC and relevant stakeholders including member states.
The report concludes that despite its declining pattern, “the overall situation of Islamophobia remains alarming.” Consequently, it requires “serious actions at international and national levels.”
Collective and international endeavors to fight Islamophobia are expected to reduce its negative impacts on social life based on tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
This article was first published on Dhaka Tribune