Two-Day International Symposium on
Islamophobia at the Islamic Cultural Centre
Dr. Mozammel Haque
Two-Day
International Symposium to explore mechanisms to counter the phenomenon of
Islamophobia legally and in the media was hosted by The Islamic Cultural Centre,
London and which was organised by the Jeddah-based The Organisation of Islamic
Cooperation (OIC) in cooperation with Rabat-based The Islamic Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), and The Islamic Cultural Centre
in London.
The
International Symposium was held at the Conference Library Hall of the Islamic
Cultural Centre, London, on Saturday and Sunday, the 15th and 16th
of July, 2017 respectively, which was attended by Lawyers, Media Experts,
Academics from European Universities and Diplomats from various Embassies. The
title of the Symposium was: Mechanisms to challenge Islamophobia legally and
through the media.
The
Symposium was started with the recitation from of the Verses of the Holy Qur’an
and Dr. Ahmed al-Dubayan, the Director General of the Islamic Cultural Centre,
London, welcomed the august gathering to the conference.
Proceedings
of the Symposium
There
were three sessions besides the Opening Ceremony and Closing Ceremony. In the
Opening Ceremony, there was welcome address by the Director General of the
Islamic Cultural Centre, London; Address by the representative of The Islamic
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO); Address by the representative
of the General Secretariat of The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and
the address by Lord Sheikh, Peer of the House of Lords of the British
Parliament.
The
First session on Islamophobia and defamation of religions from the perspective
of international law was chaired by Dr. El-Mahjoub Bensaid. The Second session
on Moral responsibility of the media in the proliferation of stereotypes about
the other and mechanisms for the professional treatment of Islamophobia by the
media was chaired by Dr. Maha Akeel of the Organisation of the Islamic
Cooperation (OIC). The Third session on the Role of civil society institutions
in countering Islamophobia from the legal and human rights perspectives was
chaired by Dr. Ahmad al-Dubayan, Director General of the Islamic Cultural
Centre, London.
In
the Closing session the Symposium was declared closed with the closing
addresses, passing of recommendations and presentation of certificates of
participation.
Background
of the Symposium
According
to the papers and folder distributed, the background of the Symposium is as
follows:
“With
the turn of the third millennium, the denigration of Islam and Muslims has
taken new forms that are in blatant violation of all international law rules
governing human rights and the media. In this process, the forms and mechanisms
of abuse have evolved, shifting from the slurs buried in books, encyclopedias
and Orientalist studies, to films, radio and TV programmes and the Internet.
With these tools, violation of law have escalated in the Western media, and the
images of Islam and Muslims are being tarnished within the circles of the
European Elites, as well as at the global level, including academic and
cultural spheres. These abuses constitute a deliberate violation of international
law, and a heavy blow to the essence and contents of all documents consecrating
the international legitimacy of human rights and which affirm the freedom of
the media and the freedom of expression, but which become restrictive when it
comes to the denigration of religions; the aim being to ban instigation to
hatred, racism and religious discrimination, and advocating tolerance.
“Certain
Western media have been at work kindling the flames of Islamophobia in its
association with the denigration of Islam, its symbols and its sanctities
through the stereotypical portraying of Muslims and Arabs, the religion of
Islam, labelled as the religion of terrorism. Voices rose from within the
United Nations, including the General Assembly and the Human Rights Council,
demanding the promulgation of an internationally binding law to deter and stem
the spread of the phenomenon. This law would be consistent with the concept of
respect for religions.
“In
this connection, The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation OIC) regularly
expressed its deep concern over the dangerous rise of Islamophobia in the
United States and a number of other Western countries. At the level of the
respective meetings of the Islamic Summit, the Foreign Ministers Council, and
the Islamic Conference of Information Ministers, the OIC has, since 2005,
adopted numerous important resolutions calling for the adoption of clear and
concrete measures and mechanisms on all levels, including national and foreign
media, in a bid to earnestly address this phenomenon and defend Islam and
Muslims.
“In
this context, the Information Department at the OIC General Secretariat has
prepared a Media Strategy to Counter Islamophobia, which was adopted by the 11th
Islamic Conference of Information Ministers, held in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia, on 21 December 2017. This is a civilizational project, which proposes
effective initiatives to address Islamophobia in the West through a set of
integrated measures and mechanisms aimed at achieving short and long-term
objectives. These include, inter alia, highlighting, identifying and refuting
the misconceptions about Islam and Muslims by providing comprehensive online
materials which shall be supported by social networks, and building alliances
with academic, press and media groups and with civil society.
“Being
concerned with correcting misconception on Islam and the Islamic civilisation
in the international media, while being aware of the pressing challenges and
demands in this connection, ISESCO, has since 2007, devoted a great attention
to addressing Islamophobia and the stereotypes on Islam and Muslims in the
Western media from a professional, media and legal perspective. In this
context, ISESCO has endeavoured to develop the professional and technical
expertise and skills of journalists working in media organisations, inside and
outside the Islamic world. The ultimate aim is to enhance their legal culture
and enable them to defend their interests, their cultural specificities and
their mission within the framework of international laws, customs and
conventions on freedom of opinion and expression, the ethics of journalism, and
rejection of the denigration of religions.”
ISESCO
and the OIC General Secretariat, being aware of the challenges posed by the
spread of Islamophobia, and in a bid to coordinate their efforts in this
connection to address the demonization of Islam, based on a professional and
human rights perspective, agreed to hold this meeting in coordination with the Islamic
Cultural Centre in London on 15-16 July 2017.
Objectives
of the Meeting
The
objectives of the meeting, according to the organisers of the international
Symposium were as follows:
1.
To Address Islamophobia in the Western Media, Cultural and Academic circles.
2.
To enable media professionals in and outside the Islamic world to master the
techniques of addressing stereotypes about Islam and Muslims in the media,
produce an alternative images favouring intercultural dialogue and fostering
values of tolerance, co-existence and respect for otherness.
3.
To highlight the illegal aspects of Islamophobia and propose legal measures to
limit them.
4.
To invigorate partnership with Western civil society organizations concerned
with combating racial discrimination, hatred denigration of religions.
Themes
of the Meeting
1.
Islamophobia from the perspective of international law
2.
Ways to address Islamophobia through the media
3.
Legal ways to address Islamophobia
4.
Ways to promote cooperation, understanding and mutual understanding with civil
society organisations to redress misconceptions about Islam and Muslims
Opening Ceremony
Dr.
Ahmad Al-Dubayan, The Director General of the Islamic Cultural Centre welcomed
the august gathering and thanked the organisers for partnering with the Centre
to address such a prominent and pressing topic. Dr. Al-Dubayan stressed that
given recent tragedies in the UK Islamophobia remains a pressing issue
concerning people in the UK and globally. Dr. Al-Dubayan highlighted that
Islamophobia can take place in many forms and that mechanisms of abuse have
evolved, shifting from the slurs buried in books, encyclopaedias and studies,
to films, radio and TV programmes and the Internet.
Dr. Al-Dubayan hoped that throughout the two days the experts could draft proposals and resolutions which will be forwarded to the partnering organisations in which the issue of Islamophobia can be approached. Dr. Al-Dubayan also mentioned the need for Muslims to interact more with the community and that through interactions fear and hatred would be reduced; it would also help inform people of the true image of Islam.
As a
representative of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(ISESCO), Dr. Mahjoub Bensaid, Head of Public Relations at ISESCO, conveyed
their Director General's best wishes for the success of the Symposium. Dr.
Bensaid said that institutions like the Islamic Cultural Centre where in the
forefront in showing the real and true image of Islam as a religion of peace
which advocates tolerance. Dr. Bensaid also thanked the OIC for supporting and
working in collaboration in this timely symposium.
As a
representative of the Organisation of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Dr. Maha
Akeel, Head of Public Relations at the OIC - Organisation for Islamic
Cooperation highlighted the Organisation's role and mission in addressing
concerns facing Muslims across the Globe. The OIC serves as an international
umbrella organisation aimed at articulating the collective voice of Muslims
across the globe. The topic which was being discussed this weekend is one of
which the OIC has written many publications and organised many activities to
address these issues.
Lord
Sheikh, Peer of the House of Lords, British Parliament, highlighted in his
opening speech the many issues facing the Muslim Community in the UK. Lord
Sheikh mentioned how Muslims are over represented in Prisons representing over
15% in Her Majesty's Prisons. Lord Sheikh also mentioned that the Muslim
population are mostly comprised of young undedicated youth which reflects
poorly on society. The issue of social challenges facing many Muslim Households
was also addressed.
Nonetheless,
a pressing phenomenon facing the UK community his Lordship touched upon was the
issue of Islamophobia. Recent attacks across the UK have demonstrated that
Islamophobia is a prominent issue, which was on the rise and that needs to be
approached and His Lordship praised the Islamic Cultural Centre and the
supporting partners for putting together this symposium. Lord Sheikh talked
about the need for Mosques to diversify in their activities and paid reference
to the ICC which holds programmes ranging from youth clubs to Arabic
Calligraphy courses. It is through these programmes that the Muslim community
can more proactive citizens engaging with society and promulgate Islam and its
true understandings.
Dr Maha Akeel
Dr. Maha Akeel, Head of Public Relations at the OIC -
Organisation for Islamic Cooperation – in an interview with Jeddah-based Arab
News before coming to the Symposium, said, “The OIC media strategy in
countering Islamophobia consists of short, medium and long-term objectives that
include focusing on interaction with media outlets, academics and experts on
various related topics; producing content, publications and media literacy
programs; engaging with Western governments in creating awareness; and
supporting efforts by Muslim civil societies in the West and involving them in
the elaboration of plans and programs to counter Islamophobia.”
Dr. Maha Akeel also said in that interview, ““No doubt there
is a rise in Islamophobia in the West, which is indicated in the latest OIC
Islamophobia Observatory Report, and there is usually a spike in hate crimes
against Muslims following terrorist acts perpetrated by a Muslim.”
“The forum will look at the role of the media and civil
society in countering Islamophobia from a legal and human rights perspective
because we cannot talk about the role of the media without discussing freedom
of the press and freedom of expression as fundamental human rights,” she said.
She also added, “When talking about the role of the media,
it is within the framework of its responsibility in the proliferation of
stereotypes and its ethical and professional standards in covering and handling
Islamophobic acts.” (Arab News, Friday, 14 July, 2017)
During the session
Executive
Director of the Interfaith Network Dr. Harriet Crabtree talked about the role
of interfaith activities in working together to tackle not just Islamophobia
but also anti-Semitism. Dr. Harriet mentioned that providing a platform for
dialogue and inter-religious discussions will help promote harmony and
understanding between worshippers of all faiths.
As
mentioned earlier, the Symposium was broken down into three sessions:
1.
Islamophobia and defamation of religions from the perspective of international
law which was delivered by panellists comprising of Lawyers and Academic from
around the world the world.
2.
Moral responsibility of the media in the proliferation of stereotypes about the
other and mechanisms for the professional treatment of Islamophobia by the
media which was delivered by experts from organisations such as "Tell
MAMA", "Faith Matters" who are at the heart of providing support
for victims of Islamophobia and Hate Crime. There were also journalists who
provided expert advice on the topic.
3.
Role of civil society institutions in countering Islamophobia from the legal
and human rights perspectives which was delivered by Islamic Organisations and
Interfaith officers which focused on the role of institutions and bodies in
nurturing and protecting the rights of victims of hate-crime and ways in which
reducing such crimes can be suggested.
The
Symposium ended with the Collection of Recommendations and Proposals which were
submitted to the OIC, ISESCO and appropriate stakeholders. Dr. Al-Dubayan also paid
tribute to the co-organisers The Organisation for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and
ISESCO for their invaluable efforts not just in support of the symposium but
their diligence in supporting Islam and Muslims across the globe.
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