The phenomenon of Islamophobia has seen a decline, during the third quarter of 2017, especially in Western countries, according to Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) report, released here today. The Observatory of Islamophobia, at the General Secretariat of the OIC, in its third report this year pointed out that this period has witnessed a marked decline in the phenomenon of Islamophobia, compared to the last four years, based on the size of the media news recorded and related to this phenomenon, which the observatory to collect and analyze relevant data. European countries and the United States witnessed a marked decline compared with 2016 and the first quarter of 2017, which were considered the two hot spots in terms of ongoing violations against Muslims and Islamic religious symbols, including acts of aggressive speech and hatred, the report stated, adding that anti-hate front was built on the awareness of the American street, that those who adopt the discourse of refusing to live with Muslims, are in fact a group of hateful racists, who spread discrimination, racism and hatred and do not reflect the diversity of the American people. Recent rise of the German extreme right-wing in 2017, coupled with the growing tide of European populists through elections in five other European countries, namely France, Austria, the Netherlands, Sweden and Denmark, where the recent elections resulted in strong voting for right-wing parties, in Western Europe, contributed to recently stepped up impact of the rhetoric of Islamophobia or the fear that migrants will not be integrated into the general fabric of the European people, the report underscored. Following the AfD party breakthrough in the election to become Germany's third-largest party, Angela Merkel's party loses a number of seats to the hard-liner in one year, the report recalled. In France, April of the same year has seen the rise of Marin-Le Pen party to second place, in the second round of the presidential election, making the far right there close to the highest authority, in the country, the report said. The Observatory, mentioned in the report that Austria preceded both Germany and France, as competing hardline candidate to the post of president Norbert Hofer lost by a narrow margin, and that the right-wing extremists in the Netherlands are present at top decision-making bodies, in the country after their party, the Freedom Party, became the second largest party in the country's legislative while Sweden's SPD became a significant party, following winning almost 13% of parliamentary seats.
