On 23 March, the SRSG had the honour of attending the Iftar citoyen organised by the Grand Mosque of Strasbourg to celebrate Ramadan on behalf of the Secretary General. SRSG had the pleasure of delivering a speech along with the President of the Grand Mosque, Officials from the Mayor’s Office and other distinguished guests. In his speech, the SRSG highlighted the Council of Europe’s commitment to fighting all forms of discrimination. He also made reference to the first Coordination Meeting on Combating Anti-Muslim Hatred recently organised by the Council of Europe and the European Commission in Strasbourg. The SRSG wished an auspicious Ramadan to our fellow Muslim citizens and underlined the importance of inter-religious dialogue.
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In recent years, we have witnessed an alarming increase in hate crimes in many parts of Europe, often incited and aggravated by hate speech online. The specific task of my Special Representative is to join forces at the European level and to ensure the collective expertise of the Council of Europe is put to full use in our common effort to prevent antisemitic, anti-Muslim and other forms of religious intolerance and hate crimes. 
Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić
European Commission against Racism and Intolerance
The Council of Europe’s main expert monitoring body dealing with racial and religious discrimination is the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI). ECRI has adopted General Policy Recommendations on the fight against antisemitism and on Combating intolerance and discrimination against Muslims. These two issues also feature in the ECRI Annual Report.
European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)
Article 9 of the ECHR guarantees freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
Article 14 of the ECHR prohibits discrimination on any ground such as sex, race, colour, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, association with a national minority, property birth or other status.
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