The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) released today its tenth annual observatory report on Islamophobia at the commencement of the 44th Council of Foreign Ministers conference in Abidjan, Republic of Côte d'Ivoire being held on 10-11 July 2017. The tenth annual report covered the period from October 2016 - May 2017. The Islamophobia Observatory Report describes the increasing trend of Islamophobia under the reviewed period, indicated by the growing fear against Islam and Muslims in certain parts of the world, which led to negative perceptions among non-Muslims. This negative trend, according to the report, was assessed to have been boosted mostly by three factors, namely: The US elections, Immigrant issue in Europe, and the rise of Populism and Far-Rights in Europe. In his foreword to the report, the OIC Secretary General Dr Yousef Al-Othaimeen observed that the 10th Report of the Islamophobia Observatory being released today "vindicates our position that the growing trend of Islamophobia has not subsided in any tangible way." "Muslims have been terrorized and discriminated. Islamic sacred symbols have been insulted. People with Islamic attires were targeted with hatred. Women with hijabs were abused on streets and public spaces. Certain governments outlawed Islamic attires or applied restrictive access for Muslims to have prayer facilities. Right-wing Politicians and media spread evil images of Islam," said Al-Othaimeen. "Acts of radical and extreme groups in the name of Islam have provided xenophobes with excuses to further their agenda. Their statements and acts have not only been irresponsible, but also conducive to the radical narratives of violent groups and terrorists, jeopardizing the positive image of Islam and boosting Islamophobia across the globe," he added. --More 13:17 LOCAL TIME 10:17 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/1646849
