Anti-Chechen sentiment or Chechenophobia, Nokhchophobia and Anti-Chechenism refers to fear, dislike, hostility, and racism towards ethnic Chechens and anything related to and in general. Anti-Chechen sentiment has been historically strong in Russia, and, for some part, spread to the other countries such as former Soviet Union like Azerbaijan, Armenia, to Europe (Poland, France), Middle East (Syria) to further United States. The main causes of hatred against Chechens for decades have been largely due to Russian anti-Chechen propaganda, Chechen involvement in global Islamic terrorism and adherence of Chechens to Islam.