EULEMA and the UN International Day against Islamofobia: news from Greece, Germany, Ireland and Italy

Greece, Athens / Round Table Discussion, 14 March 2023

By Anna Stamou / Coordinator of the event

Athens welcomed the Round Table Discussion on the occasion of the International Day to Combat Islamophobia on March 14th 2023. The Muslim Association of Greece organized a discussion where different distinguished speakers had the chance to share their thoughts and insights about Islamophobia. This was really fruitful because each one of the participants had different expertise: University professors in social sciences, theology, history, anthropology, law, interacted along with diplomats, politicians, civil society reps, educators, diplomats and community leaders.

The key point that came as an outcome is the strong common efforts, with clarity, visibility and action plans. The Islamophobia rises in our region due to the political agendas that use media as their tool to attract ultra right voters was commonly admitted by all. Most of the participants indicated the systemic racism as a core problem that generates hate. So a coordinated action is absolutely needed, a more specific legislation along with a more efficient EU support.

Although the discussion only scratched the surface of the problem, it was evident that set the base for more, longer and more crowded discussions in Greece. It was a natural result after such an interesting and enlightening event. Getting to know everyone’s perspectives and actions is precious for a human society, and when society factors interact for evolving and comforting the people, then success is the only way.

Interview with the Secretary General of the Central Council of Muslims in Germany

With Abdassamad El Yazidi

Islamophobia “is a form of misanthropy that has entered the mainstream,” Abdassamad El Yazidi, the secretary general of Germany’s Central Council of Muslims, told DW. “It has become acceptable and can be expressed openly.”

The 47-year-old El Yazidi said Islamophobia was “common in the Bundestag, as well as the state parliaments, for fascists, but increasingly also for representatives of the so-called established democratic parties who are fishing in murky waters aiming to catch votes on the right-wing fringe.”

El Yazidi, a native of Hesse, has long been involved in interfaith dialogue. He said Muslims in Germany were “stigmatized.” The Central Council, he said, has asked the federal government several times to appoint a commissioner for Muslim life, just as there is a commissioner for Jewish life and a commissioner against antiziganism. “There are very many commissioners, about 35, who fulfill very important functions,” El Yazidi said. “But this is being denied to Muslims, with hypocritical arguments.” He said people don’t want to admit that there is a problem with anti-Muslim racism, “and Muslims feel that.”

Ireland, 15 March 2023

By Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri / Chair, Irish Muslim Council

As the world becomes more interconnected and diverse, it’s important to recognise and combat forms of discrimination that continue to harm marginalised communities. One such form of discrimination is Islamophobia, which refers to prejudice and hostility towards Muslims. Today on March 15th, the world observes the UN International Day to combat Islamophobia, an initiative aimed at raising awareness about the impact of anti-Muslim discrimination worldwide. In Ireland, Islamophobia is a growing concern, as highlighted by Dr James Carr, a researcher at the University of Limerick, who has conducted extensive research on the rise of Islamophobia in Ireland…

Read the full article on the website of the Islamic Center of Ireland

Italy, 18 March 2023

With Imam Yahya Pallavicini

The International Center for Multiculturalism of the Republic of Azerbaijan organized the first international conference in Baku on the topic of Islamophobia. On the recommendation of the grand mufti of the Caucasus Pashazade, imam Yahya Pallavicini was also invited, as vice president of Coreis, Icesco ambassador for dialogue and president of Eulema, the European Council of Muslim representatives…

Read the full article in Italian on the website of the Formiche Magazine