Ravan Hasanov, Executive Director of the Baku International Multiculturalism Center (BIMC), took part in an international conference held at the headquarters of the League of Arab States in Cairo, the capital of the Arab Republic of Egypt. The international conference named "Islamophobia: Concept and Practice in the Current Global Context" was organized by the League of Arab States and the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO). The main goal of the conference is to promote interfaith and intercultural dialogue, and contribute to peace, mutual respect and security. The causes of Islamophobia, its spread, and its impact on societies and international security were discussed in the conference. The role of education, civil society and intergovernmental cooperation in combating this problem was also a key topic. The discussions emphasized the importance of tolerance, dialogue and coexistence.
Speaking at the conference, BBMM Executive Director Ravan Hasanov stated that, Islamophobia is a serious and systemic discrimination problem in the world today, contrary to the fundamental principles of democracy - equality, religious freedom, and justice. This problem is not only bias, but also a dangerous trend enabling to discrimination against Muslims in legislation, media and public opinion. Ravan Hasanov emphasized that international cooperation, awareness-raising, joint projects are important for an effective solution to the problem with the participation of the media and youth. He also talked about Azerbaijan's efforts to combat Islamophobia. He noted that Azerbaijan plays an active role in promoting respect for different religions and cultures, both regionally and internationally. Our country takes international initiatives in the fight against Islamophobia and organizes large conferences and forums for this purpose. Ravan Hasanov emphasized that the fight against Islamophobia is not only a defense of Muslims, but also of human rights and democracy as a whole.