Istanbul moot to debate ‘discrimination against Muslims’

Turkiye, OIC’s human rights body bring together international experts, academics to brainstorm human rights

A two-day international conference to debate human rights violations faced by Muslims began  in the Turkish metropolis of Istanbul on this morning.

It is hosted by Turkiye’s justice and foreign ministries, and the Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

Organizers said in a statement that the moot aims to “establish a multi-stakeholder dialogue to objectively analyze to counter growing acts of Islamophobia and discrimination against Muslims in different parts of the world, as well as to identify practical ways and means to protect and promote the rights of Muslim communities and minorities.”

Turkiye's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is expected to address the event via video conferencing.

During the discussions, the organizers said, the participants will "seek to trace the roots and practices of discriminatory behavior and policies against Muslim communities to understand the context in which Islamophobia has developed and the role it plays in undermining their human rights.”

International experts on the subject, government representatives, human rights institutions, civil society, NGOs and academia will participate.

“Participants are expected to have an open and in-depth discussion on existing practices, policies and behaviors that have led to increased discrimination against Islam and Muslims,” the statement said

PARTICIPATION FROM WESTERN THRACE

A delegation representing the Western Thrace Muslim Turkish Minority also participate to the seminar.

The Elected Mufti of Komotini Ibrahim Serif will deliver his speach in the second part of the seminar this afternoon. Mufti Serif is expected to speak about the latest situation and the problems of the Muslim Turkish Minority Of Western Thrace.