Mumtaz Hussain
UNITED NATIONS: The office of António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, has said that Muslims around the world often face institutional discrimination, socio-economic exclusion, biased immigration policies, as well as unwarranted surveillance and profiling.
In a statement issued on the occasion of the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, the UN chief called for renewed commitment to equality, human rights and dignity for every person regardless of their faith.
The statement urged people to stand against Islamophobia and reaffirm the principles of justice, respect and equal treatment for all.
Message of Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to UN
Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, in his message on International Day to Combat Islamophobia, stated: “Four years ago, United Nations General Assembly passed landmark resolution 76/254 in 2022 to designate 15 March as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia.”
This day accords us an opportunity to express solidarity with the victims of Islamophobia, underscore the threat it poses to lives, dignity and heritage of Muslims and, international peace and security, and renew our resolve to fight Islamophobia in all its variants.
Islamophobia is systemic, institutional and pervasive. It stems from the irrational and unfounded fear of Muslims and Islam due to ignorance, prejudice and misinformation.
Ambassador Iftikhar said that the manifestations of Islamophobia vary from violent attacks on Muslims, demolition of mosques and desecration of Holy Quran, to disparaging Muslims’ cultural and religious symbols like hijab.
At some places, the state patronage to Islamophobes have resulted in disenfranchisement and economic marginalization of Muslims creating a threat of their complete ghettoization.
In line with the longstanding principles of its foreign policy and aspirations of its people, Pakistan has won accolades for its steadfast advocacy of combatting Islamophobia.
“Pakistan shepherded two historic United Nations General Assembly’s resolutions on Islamophobia and is now coordinating with like-minded countries and the United Nations to devise a structured pathway to identify, monitor and combat Islamophobic trends, discourses and incidents.”
He added that Pakistan will continue its endeavours by calling for reposing trust in dialogue, interfaith harmony and education for combating Islamophobia and to reject the divisive and disruptive tendencies of discrimination, exclusivity, racism and intolerance.
