UN PICTURE RELEASED BY PAK. MISSION
Mumtaz Hussain
UNITED NATIONS: Islamophobia and rising hate speech targeting Muslims are deeply alarming trends, said Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad.
He was speaking at a high-level event commemorating the International Day for Countering Hate. Ambassador Asim pointed to discriminatory laws, the defamation of religious symbols, and orchestrated vilification campaigns as manifestations of this disturbing surge.
He emphasized that Islamophobia is not an isolated issue, but part of a broader wave of racism, xenophobia, and identity-based hate that is fracturing societies and undermining global peace.
He criticized media outlets and digital platforms, particularly those aligned with dominant political forces, for spreading and amplifying hate. Algorithms that reward sensational content, he warned, often end up promoting divisive narratives and targeting marginalized communities.
He called for the full implementation of the UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech, asserting that addressing hate in all its forms, whether religious, racial, gender-based, or national, is essential for ensuring global harmony.
Ambassador Asim also welcomed the recent appointment of the UN Special Envoy on Combating Islamophobia, a position created through UN resolution 78/264, led by Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
He described the move as a timely and necessary institutional response, and reaffirmed Pakistan’s full support for the Special Envoy’s mandate.
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