The high-level international conference organized by Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q), one of the partner universities of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), concluded its activities by exploring the complex power dynamics that drive the Islamophobia and its intersections with xenophobia, misogyny, and systemic, institutionalized forms of racism, bigotry, and dispossession.

Held under the theme “Global Histories and Practices of Islamophobia” from Sep. 30 to Oct. 1, the conference underscored the importance of relentless scholarship, dialogue, collaborative efforts, and solidarity to dismantle harmful prejudice, bias, and discrimination.

Delivering the closing remarks, Dean of GU-Q Dr. Safwan Masri said: “Our host country, Qatar, has taken the lead with a global initiative to address global racism, including anti-Muslim hate and Islamophobia. The broad multifaceted efforts include education, public dialogue, policymaking, and convening of experts and policymakers
to facilitate collective action,” adding: “Our conference has been a contribution to the efforts to call attention to Islamophobia and respond to it, challenge its destructive impact, and engage the impactful work of activists, educators, and artists.” Speaking during a panel titled “Intellectual Roots of Islamophobia,” Professor in Rhetoric and Decolonial Thought at the University of Leeds Dr. Salman Sayyid argued that there is nothing rational about Islamophobia, but rather it is one of the oldest forms of racism. Linked to power relations, it is often marked by the idea that Muslims cannot be contained in the nation-state. “Islamophobia is a type of racialized governance that governs expressions of Muslimness, though you don’t have to be Muslim to be subject to Islamophobia. You just have to be Muslim adjacent or confused for being a Muslim.” He argued that undoing Islamophobia requires not simply recognizing its intellectual roots, but also preserving and cultivating Muslim identity in all its expressions
.

Participants in the conference highlighted the need to undo these media narratives and bring in new best practices, guidelines, and standards while deepening Muslim representation in the media.

With a focus on “Qatar, the World Cup, and Islamophobia,” a panel of senior journalists and academics analyzed the negative patterns of Western media coverage with the swell of Islamophobic attitudes and colonial stereotypes before and during the mega-event.

The conference culminated in a high-level roundtable discussion exploring potential solutions, the intersection of research and decision-making, and partnerships that promote tolerance and understanding to combat Islamophobia.

Professor of Religion, International Affairs, and Islamic Studies at Georgetown University in Washington, DC Dr. John Esposito said: “I think that the value of this conference is that it underscores the extent to which there has been a globalization of Islamophobia Islamophobia is not something that’s going to go away soon, the situatio
n has gotten worse and worse.” He praised the conference as the best hed ever attended on the topic and emphasized its importance in bringing together people from around the world and encouraging them to continue to fight Islamophobia wherever it occurs.

In addition to the engaging academic sessions, the conference featured forums designed to engage students and the broader community. In collaboration with student clubs and organizations, one such forum addressed the impact of Islamophobia on university campuses. Participants discussed the measures universities can take to combat Islamophobia and create inclusive environments.

The next conference in GU-Q’s Hiwaraat Conference Series will be “Confronting the Impasse: Doha Symposium on Afghanistan and the Region,” taking place from Nov. 10-11. It will be followed by “Sustaining the Oasis: Envisioning the Future of Water Security in the Gulf” from Nov. 12-13. (QNA)

Source: Qatar News Agency