Azerbaijan’s President Criticizes Rising Islamophobia, Anti-Muslim Discrimination

TEHRAN (IQNA) – Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev criticized some European countries on Thursday for not accepting Muslim refugees, saying, “refusing to take them based on their religion constitutes religious segregation.”

Aliyev's remarks came in his speech during the inauguration of the 5th Baku International Humanitarian Forum, in which he focused on the issues of the Islamic world as well as criticized the upsurge in Islamophobia and discrimination against Muslims and hatred towards Islam, particularly in Europe, Islamic News reported.

The president added: "The world today is in dire need for dialogue,” calling on developing the discussions between the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Council of Europe. 

He said that his country will support such dialogue as it is a member of both the OIC and the Council of Europe.