The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) held a special session yesterday to commemorate the first anniversary of the International Day for Combating Islamophobia. The United Nations last year declared March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, a test that the OIC hailed. The commencement of this event occurred at the opening of the 49th session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of OIC Member States, held in Nouakchott, Mauritania. The session was attended by foreign ministers of OIC countries, the High Representative of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), Miguel Angel Moratinos, ambassadors and representatives of observer countries and international organizations, and representatives of OIC institutions. The event represented an opportunity to raise awareness of the current situation concerning Islamophobia and to call for concrete global action to combat incitement to all forms of religion-based hatred, discrimination, and violence. OIC Secretary-General, Hissein Brahim Taha, said in a speech he delivered that the International Day to Combat Islamophobia should not be considered an occasion for Muslims only but rather a global day to confront any form of religious hatred and intolerance, calling on all countries, International and regional organizations to observe March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia and to reiterate their commitment to combating xenophobia and promoting the values of tolerance, understanding, harmony, dialogue and peaceful coexistence between different religions.
