Azerbaijani president addresses international conference on combating Islamophobia

President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan has delivered a significant address to participants at an international conference in Baku, focusing on the urgent need to combat Islamophobia in today's world.

The event, titled "Embracing Diversity: Tackling Islamophobia in 2024," is currently underway in the Azerbaijani capital, Report informs.

The address from President Aliyev was conveyed to attendees by Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Presidential Administration.

The conference, organized by the Baku International Center for Multiculturalism, the Center for Analysis of International Relations, the G20 Forum for Interreligious Dialogue, and the Baku Initiative Group, has drawn 130 guests from over 30 countries. Among the attendees are scholars, experts from international organizations, religious leaders, representatives of non-governmental organizations, local experts, government officials, and leaders of religious communities.

The conference carries special importance as it is dedicated to the annual observance of the International Day against Islamophobia, which falls on March 15 each year. The conference aims to foster dialogue and cooperation among diverse stakeholders in addressing the rising tide of Islamophobia globally.

As part of the conference itinerary, participants are scheduled to visit Shusha on March 10, a city recently declared the cultural capital of the Islamic world for the year 2024.

March 15 was designated as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia following significant international deliberation. The decision was first announced during a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Niamey, Niger, on November 27-28, 2020. Subsequently, in 2022, the United Nations General Assembly officially adopted March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, marking a pivotal moment in the global fight against discrimination and prejudice.

President Aliyev's address underscores Azerbaijan's commitment to promoting multiculturalism and religious tolerance on the international stage. As discussions unfold at the conference and initiatives are devised to combat Islamophobia, the event serves as a crucial platform for advancing understanding, cooperation, and mutual respect among nations and cultures.