Pakistan urges world to take decisive action against Islamophobia
Pakistan
UN designated March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia
UNITED NATIONS (Web Desk) - Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to United Nations Munir Akram, speaking on behalf of the OIC, called on the world community to act decisively in countering the rising incidents of Islamophobia, bigotry and intolerance.
The UN General Assembly marked the International Day to Combat Islamophobia on Friday.
“Our aim must be to promote a collective effort to combat Islamophobia with unity and empathy,” Ambassador Munir Akram told the 193-member Assembly.
“We should commit to utilizing the positive messages of peace, justice, tolerance and compassion that Islam – and indeed all religions – offer to combat Islamophobia and all other manifestations of hate, bigotry and intolerance,” he said.
In 2022, the General Assembly adopted a resolution, co-sponsored by Pakistan, designating March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, which he called a “defining moment” as the world finally recognized the danger posed by this menace.
The day was celebrated as the Muslim world was observing the holy month of Ramazan.
“Islamophobia is not restricted to one region– It is resurgent in the West and the East,” Ambassador Akram said, speaking for OIC.
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Munir Akram urged the governments to ensure that their policies and laws reflect an unambiguous commitment to religious tolerance; media and disinformation are not used to fuel hate; no law is weaponized to curtail Muslim identity or discriminate against Muslims; and no citizen of any state is relegated to second-class status based on their faith.
“No nation can claim to be a true democracy while it systematically alienates and marginalizes its Muslim citizens,” he said.
He added that the manifestations of Islamophobia include multiple acts of desecration Islam’s sacred symbols and sites; defamation of its revered Prophet (PBUH) and the suppression of Muslim identity – such as hijab bans.
Ambassador Akram thanked the UN chief for indicating his intention to nominate Miguel Moratinos, a senior Spanish diplomat and the head of UN Alliance of Civilization, as his special envoy on Islamophobia.
“We call for the early approval of the financial resources required to enable the Secretary-General and his special envoy to implement the provisions of this General Assembly resolution on combating Islamophobia.”
Ambassador Akram also expressed appreciation for the efforts of some Western countries – including Sweden and Denmark – which have enacted laws to address Islamophobia – including criminalization of acts of desecration of the Holy Quran, and to ensure that freedom of expression is not misused to propagate hate and intolerance.
