Azernews.Az

Islamophobia is gaining ground in the world after the September 11, 2001 terror attacks on the United States, an Islamic group official has warned.
"This was actually an excuse for certain forces to pressure the Islamic religion," said Dr. Ahmed Said Ould Bah, head of the Cabinet at the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO).
Addressing an international conference, "Islamophobia and other forms of discrimination based on religion or belief: Consequences for young people and youth work responses," held in Baku last week, Bah said Islamophobia aims to create fear among people of other creeds toward Islam, discredit this religion and sully its believers.
"Unfortunately, discrimination and radicalism against Islam, even in the upper levels of society and state, strengthens Islamophobia. The impunity of those causing religious profiling encourages others. The main reason for this is the fact that certain radical groups are utterly worried about the increasing respect for the Muslim faith around the world. This, in fact, is a problem of not only Muslims, but also believers of other creeds, as the key goal pursued by these forces is to sow a seed of discord amidst people."
Outlining solutions to the problem, the ISESCO official said that to counter Islamophobia, the international community should be comprehensively enlightened about Islam and extensive campaigns launched by believers of all creeds against instigators of inter-religious strife.
The three-day conference was attended by 124 representatives from 43 countries.