“Everything I knew about Muslims was negative and frightening, and I didn’t want to have anything to do with them. But I became really good friends with some imams in Afghanistan, and that friendship truly changed my perception of Muslims. I realized that Islamophobia is harmful not only to Muslims but also to Christians, because it damages our own faith,” said Bob Roberts, Co-founder of the Multi-Faith Neighbors Network and President of the Institute for Global Engagement, during a panel session titled “Islamophobia in Different Contexts: Regional Prospects”, held as part of the international conference titled “Islamophobia in Focus: Unveiling Bias, Shattering Stigmas” in Baku.

Roberts emphasized that humanity is currently living through a historical turning point, which, he said, occurs roughly every 80 to 100 years.

“We are facing serious cultural, social, and political challenges around the world. These challenges are further exacerbating the issue of Islamophobia,” he noted.