Islamophobia

 Islamophobia is a fear, or more precisely, an excessive fear, against Islam, against Muslims, as well as against anything associated with the religion, such as Mosques, Islamic Centers, Holy Qur’an, Hijab, etc. It also constitutes racism and discriminations in daily life, on Media, at workplace, in political sphere, etc. It rests in the mind and it reflects in attitudes, and could be manifested through violent actions, such as burning mosques, vandalizing properties, abusing women wearing scarf, or insulting Prophet or sacred symbols of Islam. That is more or less, how Islamophobia identifiable, how it manifests, which can be seen not only from incidents, but also through perspectives, statements, behavior, and gestures. Since the last two decades, Islamophobia keeps growing in some parts of the world, through intensive campaigns and public discourses disseminating fear of Islam, and through significant number of incidents targeting Muslims, mosques, Islamic attires, and Islamic most-revered figures. 

The OIC has been given a mandate to monitor Islamophobia trend and to provide periodical reports to Member States; while being encouraged to take necessary measures to address the phenomenon in coordination and cooperation with Member States, international communities and the UN Human Rights mechanism, as well as with other international entities whenever it is possible. Through a dedicated unit within the OIC General Secretariat which is the Islamophobia Observatory, such mandate is being implemented mainly by monitoring events and incidents on daily basis; scanning the minds, public feelings, incidents, and everything that serves as possible indicator of Islamophobia; by reporting to Member States on regular basis (Monthly, Three-monthly, Annually), by initiating counter-measures against Islamophobes/Xenophobes; by initiating dialogue for projecting the true/peaceful values of Islam; by raising global awareness of the phenomenon; by spreading the basic tenets of moderation and modernization in Islam; and by empowering communities around the world to meet the challenges related to the Islamophobia.