No Islamophobia in Latin America, says Turkey’s religious head

ISTANBUL – Anadolu Agency

Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) head Mehmet Görmez. AA Photo

It is noticeable that Latin America has not displayed Islamophobic tendencies recently, though the same cannot be said for the U.S. and Europe, Turkey's Directorate of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) head Mehmet Görmez has said.

“The Islamic world has faced, and is continuing to face, great traumas in our century. The latest incidents have led us to be embarrassed for Muslims in Latin American countries. Even though these incidents have helped form Islamophobia in the West, namely in the U.S. and Europe, it is remarkable that there is no Islamophobia in Latin America,” said Görmez at the first ever Muslim Leaders of Latin America Summit held in Istanbul on Nov. 12.

He suggested that Latin America was not a place where Muslims suffered devastating pain because "oppression on the continent did not discriminate based on religion."

“Latin America’s oppression comes from not being integrated into the hegemonic system. This oppression covers everyone in these lands without discriminating among religions. One cannot speak of tangible distress from being a member of a religion or hampering religious freedoms,” said Görmez.