Cole Durham: Islamophobia remains troubling legacy of colonialism

Islamophobia remains a troubling legacy of colonialism, orientalism and identity politics in many parts of the world, Cole Durham, president of the G20 Interfaith Dialogue Forum, said in Baku at an international scientific conference on the topic: "Islamophobia in Focus: Unveiling Bias, Shattering Stigmas," Report informs.

"The problem of Islamophobia is extremely complex and has deep roots in history. Its origins go back to medieval times, to the first clashes between the Islamic civilization and other cultures. Today, in many parts of the world, Islamophobia continues to exist as a sad legacy of colonialism, orientalism and identity politics. Like many other forms of entrenched hostility, it is often fueled by modern trends toward polarization and radicalization: one tragic incident causes a chain reaction, finding an echo and intensifying in the context of many other similar events," he noted.

According to him, Islamophobia is not the only form of religious intolerance that modern society faces: "Global statistics show an increase in cases of anti-Semitism. Christians remain one of the most persecuted religious groups in the world - and, what is especially alarming, often the persecution comes from members of the same faith. These problems are global in nature and are not limited to any part of the world."