OSCE and Muslim NGO network to work closer to fight discrimination

WARSAW, 27 September 2005 - Representatives of over 20 Muslim NGOs, as well as community leaders met today at an OSCE meeting on human rights and democracy to discuss how to deal with increasing intolerance and discrimination against Muslims. The aim is to create links between Muslim NGOs to address this issue and advise the OSCE.

"This is the first OSCE event of its kind and a good opportunity to begin the essential task of building relations with Muslim communities - which have been underrepresented within the work of the Organization," said Ambassador Christian Strohal, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, ODIHR.

"We need to find ways to deal with intolerance against Muslims, which assumes a variety of forms, including verbal abuse, desecration of places of worship, violent attacks, lack of religious accommodation in workplaces and schools, and a failure to integrate and engage Muslim communities in national institutions."

Participants also noted the failure of many societies to tackle the stereotypes of Islam and its adherents, and to fight against elements of Islamophobia in political discourse.

Imam Abduljalil Sajid, from the Muslim Council for Religious and Racial Harmony in the United Kingdom, said that it was vital to avoid using extreme measures when dealing with extremism because it would reverberate across the Muslim community.

Ambassador Omur Orhun, the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairman-in-Office on combating intolerance and discrimination against Muslims, emphasized awareness raising, proper training of police, educating young people and implementing best practices.

"It is important to remember that discrimination and intolerance against Muslims is not only directed against a specific religious group. It also deeply affects international relations, as well as the internal stability within Western societies. Therefore we should address the issue through a holistic approach," he said.

The OSCE/ODIHR assist OSCE participating States in implementing their commitments on tolerance and non-discrimination and supports their efforts to respond to hate crimes and incidents of racism, including against Muslims.