Phobia is a socio-political disease caused by sectarianism or the feeling of we-and-others, a sort of fear created with a purpose. In most cases this is born out of the motive of subjugating and ruling over ‘others’ – which stands in sharp contrast with the idea of inclusiveness. The irony is that this is practised rather brazenly by the champions of democracy. Those suffering from this syndrome look at ‘others’ with jaundiced eyes and fail rather miserably to recognise ‘them’ as fellow human beings, children of their common parents. This syndrome begins with a sense of hatred towards ‘others’, making ‘we’ and ‘others’ maintain a sort of indifference towards each other; but in a course of time this hatred grows into enmity, and if left unchecked and undeterred, it takes the shape of savagery and barbarism. This is what we see in Europe and other parts of the world, much so othering the followers of the religion of Islam. Thus the syndrome is termed as Islamophobia, which has assumed planetary proportions, thanks to the lopsided growth of materialism.
The question is how to contain and counter this inhuman, undemocratic move. No civil society, no social scientist worth the name has made any effort in this direction. It was only the last week that Turkey’s Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı, normally referred to as the Diyanet) formed a two-pronged common strategy to fight against Islamophobia in Europe. The Diyanet is the official, powerful state institution established in 1924 as successor to the Sheikh ul-Islam after the abolition of the Ottoman Caliphate. Diyanet head Mehmet Görmez said the new strategy would gather Muslim leaders in Europe and arrange meetings with non-Muslim communities. The first such meeting is scheduled between 22 and 25 May in western Sakarya province of the country. The Sakarya meeting would gather religious officials from 120 countries, including religious advisers who work as representatives of Diyanet, attaches and coordinators of religious services. Later, a larger gathering of European Muslims would be held in Europe.
The Diyanet move is in the fitness of things as it throws a ray of hope in the ethical darkness prevailing in the world. The move addresses Islamophobia in Europe; after all charity begins at home. We hope in the times to come the Diyanet would address the issue in other continents as well. The Muslim religious leaders in Europe and elsewhere should extend their support to the Diyanet in fulfilling this need of the hour.