13/03/2026 Equality and Non-Discrimination
Ahead of the International Day to Combat Islamophobia (15 March), Francesco Verducci (Italy, SOC), PACE General Rapporteur for combating racism and intolerance, made the following statement:
“Prejudice against Muslim people remains a persistent challenge in our societies. Islamophobia often manifests through the ‘othering’ of Muslims, fuelled by misrepresentations of their religion and negative stereotyping that portray Muslim communities as unfit for peaceful living together in Europe.
Such narratives can lead to dehumanising individuals and communities. Even counter-terrorism policies — while adopted with legitimate security objectives — have sometimes had the unintended effect of stigmatising entire groups, reinforcing suspicion and exclusion.
The spread of Islamophobic rhetoric and hate speech is a reason for serious concern. Such discourse is rife in social media, and it increasingly finds its way into mainstream public discourse, justifying and instigating actual discrimination.
Public personalities — particularly political representatives — carry a special responsibility: we must refrain from targeting individuals or groups with derogatory language for short-term political gain. Such rhetoric harms those directly affected and undermines the foundations of peaceful coexistence. As parliamentarians, we must lead by example and work together to ensure that our societies are grounded in dignity, equality and respect for all.”
The Parliamentary Assembly is due to debate Mr Verducci’s report on countering discrimination based on religion on Wednesday 22 April during its forthcoming spring plenary session in Strasbourg.