To commemorate the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, SESRIC hosted the second edition of SESRIC Talks Series, bringing together high-level representatives of the diplomatic corps, distinguished experts and participants from international and Turkish national institutions.

The event is dedicated to raising awareness on intolerance, hate speech, and discrimination targeting Muslims and to encourage the OIC Member Countries to take the necessary steps to combat the Islamophobia.

The SESRIC Talks hosted H.E. Amb. Mehmet PAÇACI, Special Envoy of the OIC Secretary General on Islamophobia as the keynote speaker. Prof. Dr. Enes BAYRAKLI, Head of the Department of Political Science and International Relations at the Turkish German University and co-editor of the European Islamophobia Report (EIR), and Ms. Amina Smits AKILMA, contributor to the EIR, also joined H.E. Amb. PAÇACI as discussants during the panel session that covered the Islamophobia phenomenon through comprehensive analysis revealing global trends in discrimination and prejudice against Muslims.

In her welcoming remarks, H.E. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK addressed the situation in Gaza while emphasizing the urgent action needed to stop the ongoing genocide in Palestine. She also highlighted the concerning escalation of Islamophobia worldwide. Recent events, including the genocide in Palestine, have further soared these trends, underscoring the urgent need for collective international efforts to combat Islamophobia. Additionally, H.E. SELÇUK also commemorated the 18^th March Çanakkale (Gallipoli) Victory and Martyrs’ Day of the Republic of Türkiye, marking one of the most heroic and defining moments in the Turkish history. The Çanakkale Victory has become a symbol of the determined spirit to protect the homeland, much like the Palestinians who, despite enduring brutal attacks, continue their fight to defend their own land. In this regard, she called on all Muslims to stand shoulder to shoulder—young and old, women and men—united in heart with Palestine.

In his keynote speech, H.E. Amb. Mehmet PAÇACI underscored the critical role of multilateralism in addressing anti-Muslim hatred. He reaffirmed the OIC’s commitment to supporting key international frameworks, including UN Human Rights Council Resolution 16/18, the Rabat Plan of Action, and the UN Strategy on Hate Speech. He also highlighted the importance of digital governance, counter-narratives, accountability, and legislative measures in combating Islamophobia. Amid the global rise in anti-Muslim hate incidents, Amb. PAÇACI called for collective action from governments, civil society, technology companies, and multilateral organisations to curb the spread and amplification of hate speech.

During the panel discussion, Prof. Enes BAYRAKLI emphasised that Islamophobia has increasingly been recognised as a distinct form of anti-Muslim racism on a global scale. He noted that the United Nations has formally acknowledged Islamophobia as a pressing issue. However, key international organisations have yet to take decisive steps in recognising and addressing this form of discrimination. Prof. BAYRAKLI underlined the urgent need for political and legal recognition of Islamophobia to counter widespread denial and inaction. He also shared key findings from the latest EIR, revealing 47% of Muslims in Europe experience racial discrimination, 39% encounter discrimination in employment, and 35% face barriers in accessing housing opportunities. Additionally, Muslim women who wear the hijab are disproportionately affected by discriminatory practices.

Ms. Amina Smits AKILMA addressed the underreported realities of Islamophobia. She emphasised that Islamophobia extends beyond physical violence to include systemic exclusion and the gaslighting of Muslim experiences, which contributes to broader societal marginalisation and the internalisation of Islamophobia among the affected communities. She further focused on the critical lack of Muslim representation in education and society at large, reinforcing the structural challenges faced by Muslim communities. To address these issues, she called for the urgent establishment of independent Islamophobia reporting mechanisms worldwide. She also stressed the need for greater Muslim representation across all sectors of society and advocated for the recognition of Muslim self-governance in religious affairs within democratic states.

The event concluded with a rich exchange of questions and remarks from participants, contributing valuable insights to the second edition of the SESRIC Talks series. Following the event, all participants continued their interactions during the Iftar dinner hosted by SESRIC.

The SESRIC Talks series is a new initiative launched in 2025, hosting distinguished experts from various fields at the Centre’s Al-Aqsa Library. This platform facilitates knowledge exchange on a wide range of topics, engaging audiences with different backgrounds and bringing together representatives of the missions of OIC Member Countries in Türkiye.

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