Ilham Aliyev lamented the conflation of Islam with extremism and terrorism
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev addressed the participants of the 20th session of the Conference of the Parliamentary Union of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Member States, currently underway in Baku.
According to him, Islamophobia, attacks on Islamic cultural heritage, and the desecration of religious values are spreading worldwide today. He emphasized that public Quran burnings and caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad cannot be justified by freedom of speech and expression.
"Islamophobia is not only a state of intolerance toward Muslims but also a dangerous trend that poses a threat to mutual understanding and peaceful coexistence." "It is disappointing that some political circles in the West, as well as international institutions such as the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, are attempting to instill anti-Islamic sentiments, equate Islam with extremism and terrorism, create a biased image of our religion, and portray it as a source of danger," Aliyev noted.
In his message, the Azerbaijani President expressed gratitude to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation for its support to his country both during the conflict with Armenia and after the conflict. He recalled that the OIC had adopted resolutions reaffirming Azerbaijan's sovereignty and territorial integrity and had praised the restoration work being carried out in the liberated territories.
