Mottaki: Islamphobia is a theorized idea in west

Tehran, Oct 18, IRNA - Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said in Astana, Kazakhstan, on Friday that Islamphobia is a theorized idea in the west.

Mottaki made the remark in an address to the meeting of foreign
ministers of Muslim and western countries, themed "Common World,
Progress through Diversity."
He said insistence on secularism has a completely political and not
cultural root, stemming from western definition of the liberal
democracy discipline which has failed after Islamic Revolution and
developments coming in the consequence.

He went on to say that Europe should compile set of rules and
regulations which would make it clear that insult on different
religions is different from concept of freedom of expression.

He added that linking extremism with religion is aimed at exploiting
it in favor of campaign against religion in general and Islamphobia in
particular, while we are witnessing full freedom of secularism and
religious extremism in the west.

"Islamphobia poses challenges to all because it has an impact on
international peace and cohesion and one cannot overlook the painful
feeling of followers of a great religion, culture or civilization," he
added.

A global solution is required to solve global problems and that will
be possible through two principles of collective thinking and global
contribution which have been taken for granted by the west, he added.

He noted that west's ignorance of principles of belief sharing and
global partnership has resulted in unilateralism which in turn has
deterred constructive dialogue.

An instance of such a conduct, he added, is ratification of global
human rights declaration without having full partnership of Muslim
states.