The Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) has strongly denounced a reported derogatory statement by the Czech President, Milos Zeman, against Islam and Muslims. ISESCO deemed the statement a mere fallacy which incites hatred and racial discrimination against Muslims, and runs counter to international efforts to contain the phenomenon of Islamophobia, and promote intercultural dialogue and coexistence between the followers of religions, and respect for human rights. ISESCO called on its Member States and on Islamic and international human rights organizations, the United Nations, the European Union, the European Parliament and the Council of Europe, to denounce the statement, especially because it was made by the head of a member State of the United Nations and the European Union, which is therefore contrary to the resolution of the General Assembly of the United Nations 224/65, issued in April 2011, which provides for the prevention of incitement to violence, xenophobia and defamation of religions and religious symbols.
