Norway, Canada Hold Joint Meeting to Counter Islamophobia
Norway, Canada Hold Joint Meeting to Counter Islamophobia
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A special meeting was held in Oslo with the participation of Canada’s special representative for combating Islamophobia, focusing on practical strategies centered on prevention, public awareness, and institutional dialogue.
According to Shia Waves Persian citing Deutsche Welle, the specialized session in the Norwegian capital brought together Norwegian institutions and Canada’s envoy to address Islamophobia. The aim of the meeting was to move beyond general recognition of Islamophobia toward concrete and sustainable actions to reduce it.
Representatives from the Muslim Dialogue Network, the Interfaith Cooperation Council, and various segments of Norwegian society attended the meeting. Canada’s experience was presented as a successful model and examined in detail.
Participants emphasized three key pillars: preventing Islamophobia before it spreads, increasing knowledge and awareness to counter stereotypes and prejudice, and strengthening dialogue with government authorities so that the Muslim community is treated as a partner in developing solutions.
Deutsche Welle reported that Canada’s representative introduced the country’s national guidelines for combating Islamophobia. The framework translates broad principles into practical measures and helps organizations and civil society actors better understand and address the issue.
Attendees stressed that combating Islamophobia is no longer confined to a single country and requires international cooperation, the exchange of experiences, and joint planning. Sharing successful approaches, they said, can strengthen Muslim communities’ ability to maintain a positive presence and integration in host societies.
Experts noted that the meeting reflects Norway’s growing commitment to knowledge-based approaches, prevention, and formal dialogue as foundations for building a just society that respects religious and cultural diversity, while outlining a systematic and sustainable path to counter Islamophobia.
