Moratinos calls on countries to join efforts in fighting Islamophobia

The world community must work together to fight Islamophobia by promoting Islam as a religion of peace and monotheism, High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Miguel Angel Moratinos said in a video address to the participants of the conference "Islamophobia as a specific form of racism and discrimination: new global and transnational challenges."

Moratinos stressed that March 15 was declared the International Day Against Islamophobia.

He explained the need for a separate day against Islamophobia by saying that it stands next to such problems as xenophobia and intolerance.

Moratinos expressed hope that the conference participants would discuss important issues regarding respect for Islam and the fight against Islamophobia for two days.

March 15 was declared a day against Islamophobia in November 2020, at a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in the city of Niamey (Republic of Niger). In 2022, the United Nations General Assembly also declared this day as the International Day against Islamophobia.