Agil Shirinov: Negative image of Islam and Muslims has been shaped in Europe since ancient times

The historically ingrained negative image of Islam is one of the key factors behind the growing trend of Islamophobia in Europe, according to Agil Shirinov, Rector of the Azerbaijan Institute of Theology.

Speaking during a panel discussion at the international academic conference titled "Islamophobia: Unveiling Bias, Shattering Stigmas," Shirinov said Islamophobia in Europe accelerated significantly during the second half of the 20th century, largely due to the mass migration of people from Muslim-majority countries to Western nations.

"Undoubtedly, the negative perception of Islam is exacerbated by the actions of radical groups who falsely operate under the name of religion, as well as by anti-Islamic propaganda spread through media and social networks. However, it is important to consider a much deeper historical context. In Europe, a negative image of Islam and Muslims has been taking shape since the Middle Ages, and this perception continues to influence public consciousness today," Shirinov emphasized.

He also recalled that the first major clash between Islamic and European civilizations occurred in the 8th century with the Muslim conquest of the Iberian Peninsula. According to Shirinov, this marked the beginning of an ideological and cultural hostility, traces of which remain visible in European politics and culture to this day.