Government Calls for End to Worldwide Islamophobia

June 21, 2005

Source: Arab News

Wire Service: AFP

http://www.arabnews.com/services/print/print.asp?artid=65742&d=21&m=6&y=2005&hl=Malaysia%20Calls%20for%20an%20End%20to%20%91Islamophobia%92

On June 21, 2005 Agence France-Presse reported, "Malaysia yesterday called for an end to widespread 'Islamophobia', saying stereotyping and prejudice against Muslims risked sparking off large-scale conflicts. 'Worldwide, the image of Islam...has suffered primarily as a result of a perception of association with extremism, radicalism and poverty,' Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar told a seminar. 'Islamophobia is a problem. I think we need to handle and tackle it appropriately,' he said, adding it needed to be 'stopped dead in its tracks' to ensure 'large-scale conflagration among and within societies does not occur.' Syed Hamid said Islam continues to be distorted in the international media, and that more cross-cultural dialogues should be held to 'foster deeper understanding and bridge the gap between the East and West.'"