The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) participated in the international scientific conference entitled “Islamophobia: Exposing Prejudice and Dismantling Stereotypes”, held in Baku, Azerbaijan, on 26–27 May 2025. The event brought together more than 200 prominent figures, including leading experts, academics, and decision-makers from around the world.

The conference was marked by significant intellectual momentum, featuring the presentation of over 70 scientific papers that addressed the developments of Islamophobia and its current political, cultural, and social ramifications. It also proposed practical approaches to confronting the phenomenon. The sessions stood out for their diversity in themes and the richness of the discussions, reflecting a growing international awareness of the need to tackle this issue at its conceptual roots.

The conference was officially opened with a speech by H.E. the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, delivered on his behalf by his Assistant for Foreign Affairs. The opening remarks presented a comprehensive strategic vision in approaching the challenges posed by hostility toward Muslims, emphasizing the need to strengthen international cooperation and intensify joint efforts to combat hate speech and counter harmful stereotypes, all with the aim of fostering values of coexistence and mutual understanding among peoples.

ICESCO was represented at this international event by Ambassador Khalid Fathalrahman, Director of the Center for Civilizational Dialogue, and Mr. Mohamed Hedi Shili, Head of the Department of Legal Affairs and International Standards. In his address, Ambassador Fathalrahman expressed his deep gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev for his continuous support of the Organization, stressing that countering Islamophobia requires international coordination and the adoption of awareness initiatives that transcend geographic and cultural boundaries. Meanwhile, Mr. Shili presented a specialized briefing on the legal dimensions of discrimination against Muslims, highlighting mechanisms for addressing it within legislative frameworks grounded in the principles of equity and justice.

The conference concluded with the adoption of a final declaration, recommending the term “anti-Muslim discrimination” as a more precise and fair alternative to the term “Islamophobia”—a direction that ICESCO has been among the first organizations to advocate for, out of a commitment to conceptual clarity and terminological precision in describing this form of hatred and discrimination.

This conference was organized within the framework of a strategic partnership that brought together ICESCO and several major international institutions engaged in interfaith and intercultural dialogue, including the G20 Interfaith Forum, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity, and the Muslim Council of Elders, in addition to notable European and Islamic bodies. This collaboration gave the event a global reach and constituted a human message that transcends geographical and religious boundaries.