Xenophobia and religion

“Xenophobia” comes from the Greek “xenos” (stranger) and “phobos” (fear) and denotes fear, suspicion or hostility towards people, groups or cultures perceived as “foreign”. Being cautious about the unfamiliar is natural, but hostility towards a whole group, discriminating against them or restricting their rights is xenophobia and discrimination. Its types are ethnic, racial and religious; forms of religious xenophobia include hostility towards Jews (antisemitism), towards Muslims (Islamophobia) and towards Christians. Historical examples: in 1933–1945 the Nazi regime in Germany carried out the mass murder of Jews (the Holocaust, about six million victims); in European history various confessions persecuted one another. Causes: ignorance, stereotypes, economic and political crises, one-sided portrayals in the media and on the internet, and also extremist groups attaching their crimes to a religion, as a result of which a whole community of believers is blamed. People are responsible for their own actions, not an entire community. Prevention: education and accurate information, interfaith dialogue, critical thinking and the rule of law. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) proclaims everyone’s right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion and prohibits discrimination; the laws of Uzbekistan also prohibit inciting hostility on the basis of nationality, race or religion.