A spokesman of the OIC General Secretariat Observatory on Islamophobia in Jeddah strongly condemned the holding of the Anti-Islamization of Europe Congress that began in the German city of Cologne on September 19, 2008 and organized by the radical “Pro Koln” Group adding, that the incident further substantiated the Muslim World's concerns of the growing trend of Islamophobia in Europe. The spokesman said that the event was a clear manifestation of the racist and xenophobic mindset of the organizers and that their action went against all accepted norms and values of civilized society. He said that it was unfortunate that the organizers decided to go ahead with the event despite the concerns expressed by the OIC and the member states and also by some non-Muslim organizations and individuals. He said that the event violated the provisions of international convention and national laws against inciting discrimination, hostility or violence on religious grounds or belief and hoped that it would be rejected by all.
