Doha: Dr. Khalid bin Fahad Al Khater, President and Founder of New Ground Research, said the Granada Declaration of Principles for Combating Islamophobia and Antisemitism, launched at the Doha Forum 2025, lays a solid foundation for global efforts to confront both forms of hatred.
At a press conference following the launch of the declaration, he said the document represents the outcome of three years of sustained work, marked by in-depth consultations and expert discussions across political and academic circles.
He added that the idea of establishing a unified framework to address both phenomena stems from several key considerations, most notably that Islamophobia has long been treated in isolation, with policies developed separately from those tackling antisemitism, and vice versa. He noted the persistence of a widespread misconception that Muslims harbor inherent hostility toward Jews simply because they are Jews, and that Jews similarly harbor inherent hostility toward Muslims solely because they are Muslims. He stressed that the Granada Declaration decisively refutes this false narrative, which is often exploited for political purposes in ways that harm both Muslim and Jewish communities.
He further explained that contemporary manifestations of Islamophobia promote policies and rhetoric similar to those once directed against Jewish communities in Europe, highlighting the clear commonalities between the two phenomena. He said the Granada Declaration establishes a foundational framework for unifying international efforts to combat both forms of hatred.
He explained that the Granada Declaration is fully consistent with international human rights standards and aligned with the priorities of the United Nations, offering a practical framework for translating its principles into action across the fields of education, human rights and social policy.
In an opening keynote, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to the State of Qatar H E Alvaro Renedo Zalba, emphasized the urgent need to address Islamophobia and antisemitism simultaneously. He stressed the importance of concerted global efforts to reduce polarization and build bridges between communities, noting that this vision is symbolized by the Spanish city of Granada.
For her part, Simona Cruciani, representative of the Office of the UN Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, expressed confidence that the Granada Declaration will open new horizons for adopting a comprehensive and inclusive societal approach to combating all forms of discrimination. She said it will also strengthen cooperation in developing coherent and effective strategies to address the phenomena of Islamophobia and antisemitism, reaffirming her full support for this pioneering initiative.
