Panel addressing Islamophobia at New York’s Turkish House urges global unity

Turkish House in New York hosts panel titled ‘Combatting Islamophobia in the Modern World’

The Turkish House in New York hosted a panel Wednesday titled “Combatting Islamophobia in the Modern World.” The panel, jointly organized by the Consulates General of Türkiye, Indonesia and Pakistan, addressed the pressing issue of Islamophobia.

Turkish Consul General Reyhan Ozgur underscored that Islamophobia undermines principles of diversity, unity, and mutual respect in society, akin to any form of hatred. He emphasized that combatting Islamophobia requires collective effort and collaboration, as it not only targets Muslims but also fuels global division and intolerance.

Professor Enes Bayrakli from the Turkish-German University cited Israel’s ongoing attacks in Gaza as an example of Islamophobia, highlighting how such actions expose the global apartheid system.

On the other hand, Raza Ahmad Rumi, a Pakistani writer, highlighted Islam’s rich cultural and tolerant history, urging Muslims to draw inspiration from their past and set positive examples in Western societies.

Rising Islamophobia: Türkiye takes pioneering stance

According to a report by the “Independent Group of Experts on Muslim Hostility” published by the German Interior Ministry in June, one-third of Germany’s 5.5 million Muslims face attacks because of their religion.

The report underscores that Islamophobia is on the rise in Western societies because of various factors, including concerns about Muslims’ presence in decision-making mechanisms and anti-Islamism in the media.

While Türkiye consistently takes a pioneering stance in defending Muslims’ sacred values, reactions from the Arab and Islamic world to incidents that offend Muslim sentiments have been weak. There is a lack of decisive responses to prevent the recurrence of such offenses.