Baku forum urges action to combat misconceptions, hatred towards muslims Photo

Misperceptions about Islam are fuelling negative views of Muslims in the US and other Western countries, warned Pastor Bob Roberts at the international conference “Islamophobia in Focus: Unveiling Bias, Shattering Stigmas” in Baku.

Roberts, co-founder of the US Multi-Faith Neighbourhood Network, said public attitudes in the US are shaped by a persistent lack of accurate information about religion, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

The forum gathered scholars, faith leaders and officials from around the world to address the roots of Islamophobia and explore ways to counter religious prejudice.

“In the United States, attitudes towards Muslims are often negative, and this stems from ignorance about Islam,” Roberts said. “I used to be afraid of Muslims and avoided contact. But after visiting Afghanistan and engaging with religious leaders there, my views changed. The key to fighting Islamophobia is building relationships — Muslims, Christians and Jews must work together. Unity among people of faith is essential.”

The importance of interfaith cooperation and public awareness was echoed by other participants, including Moussa Konate, a delegate from Burkina Faso. He emphasised that Islam is frequently misunderstood in Western societies.

“Islam is a religion of peace, respect, and spiritual enlightenment,” Konate said. “Unfortunately, in countries like France, Sweden and Norway, many people continue to view Islam through a distorted lens, seeing it as an aggressive religion. The conference in Baku allowed us to confront these misconceptions and promote a more accurate image of Muslims as peaceful and open-minded people. This is a mission we must all share.”

In addition to educational outreach, participants underscored the need for robust legal measures. Mehmet Paçacı, Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for Combatting Islamophobia, called for an international legal framework to address the rise of anti-Muslim hatred, particularly from far-right groups.

“Today, right-wing extremists are directly targeting Muslims. Our observatory tracks these developments and takes action, but more comprehensive legal tools are necessary,” Mehmet said. “Academic institutions must also engage responsibly, avoiding biased approaches and conducting objective research into extremist ideologies.”

Digital media platforms were also identified as critical battlegrounds in the fight against religious intolerance. Participants urged closer cooperation with the media to help shape more balanced narratives.

Dr Ibrahim Negm, Secretary-General of the General Secretariat for Fatwa Authorities Worldwide, highlighted the urgency of addressing Islamophobia as a global threat.

“Islamophobia is not just hatred towards Muslims — it is a serious challenge to international stability and order,” Negm told Trend on the sidelines of the conference. “We cannot simply point fingers at others. We must ask ourselves: what are we doing to stop the rise of Islamophobia? This conference is an opportunity to assess the situation objectively and identify actionable steps forward.”

Negm added that the Baku gathering represented a significant milestone in shaping future priorities in the global effort to counter religious prejudice.

As the conference concluded, participants agreed that a unified approach — combining education, interfaith dialogue, legal reform, and responsible media engagement — is essential to dismantling harmful stereotypes and fostering mutual understanding.

By Aghakazim Guliyev