KAICIID Showcases Leadership in Tackling Religiously Motivated Hatred on the International Day to Combat Islamophobia
Combating Hate Through Dialogue: KAICIID’s Commitment
On 15 March 2025 — the third anniversary of the United Nations International Day to Combat Islamophobia, designated by the UN General Assembly in 2022 — the International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID) demonstrated its leadership in addressing religiously motivated hatred, showcasing its programmatic and advocacy work at the intersection of dialogue, policy, and community engagement.
KAICIID’s approach rests on the conviction that hate speech and religiously motivated discrimination cannot be countered by legislation alone. A lasting response requires a cultural shift — one cultivated through sustained interreligious dialogue, the active engagement of religious leaders as credible public voices for coexistence, and close cooperation with media and policy actors. Across its platforms and regional programmes, KAICIID works with faith communities, governments, and civil society to address the social conditions that allow prejudice to take hold.
The occasion highlighted the contribution of KAICIID-supported platforms such as EULEMA, whose network of Muslim religious leaders from 24 European countries enables coordinated action against anti-Muslim discrimination at local, national, and European levels. EULEMA’s participation in the structured Article 17 TFEU dialogue with EU institutions, its engagement with the Council of Europe, and its cooperation with the Muslim-Jewish Leadership Council represent exactly the kind of multifaith, multilevel approach that KAICIID promotes on the international stage.
The International Day to Combat Islamophobia is not only a moment for commemorating victims of discrimination: it is a call to renew practical commitments. The day’s significance is measured by the concrete work that religious leaders, dialogue practitioners, and intergovernmental organisations carry out throughout the year.
More information: KAICIID.
