International Symposium on Islamophobia at ICC

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 15^th and 16^th 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 11^th 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.