Anti-Chechen sentiment or Chechenophobia, Nokhchophobia and Anti-Chechenism refers to fear, dislike, hostility, and racism towards ethnic Chechens and anything related to Chechen culture and North Caucasian culture in general. Anti-Chechen sentiment has been historically strong in Russia, and to some degree has spread to other countries in the former Soviet Union, such as Azerbaijan and Armenia, to Europe (Poland, France), the Middle East (Syria), and to the United States. For decades, the main causes of hatred against Chechens have been largely due to the violent mentality of Chechens, the Chechen adherence to Islam and anti-Chechen Russian imperialist depiction.