NEW YORK: The consulate generals of Pakistan, Türkiye and Indonesia in New York co-hosted an event on combating Islamophobia and emphasized their governments’ collective commitment to combating Islamophobia besides advocating for peace, tolerance and inter-religious dialogue in the world.
In his remarks, Consul General of Pakistan Aamer Ahmad Atozai emphasized Islam’s core principles of moderation, pluralism, compassion and tolerance. He highlighted the misrepresentation of Islam by a minority of extremists and the concerning surge of Islamophobia since 9/11, encompassing hate speech, violence, and institutional discrimination against Muslims.
He also underscored Pakistan’s active role alongside Türkiye and Indonesia in the recent adoption of the UN General Assembly resolution on “Measures to combat Islamophobia,” which included a call for the appointment of a United Nations special envoy on combating Islamophobia.
The consul general termed Israel’s genocidal actions in Gaza a stark illustration of global Islamophobia and shed light on prevalent Islamophobic incidents worldwide, including hate speech, targeted attacks, and discrimination against Muslims. He brought into focus the systematic destruction of religious sites in India and other Islamophobic actions within the country.
“Despite adoption of General Assembly’s resolution on Islamophobia two years ago, despite the declarations in statements against Islamophobia by the United Nations Secretary General, by the High Commissioner of Human Rights, by several of these special rapporteurs and office holders of the United Nations Human Rights Council the incidence of Islamophobia of discrimination prejudice and violence against Muslims have risen.”
The consul general of Pakistan also emphasized the significant military presence of Indian occupation forces in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, as well as India’s discriminatory policies aimed at altering the region’s demographic composition from a Muslim majority to a Hindu majority through demographic engineering.
“In our own region the Indian Prime Minister recently celebrated the construction of a Hindu temple on the ruins of a historic 600 years old Babari mosque, which was destroyed by the Hindutva zealots in 1992. While Islamic names of cities are being replaced and Islamic heritage erased, moreover in Illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, India has had been implementing its strategy to transform the Muslim majority into a Hindu majority by implementing draconian laws and deploying occupation of army which is 900,000 troops to impose its colonial illustration of Kashmir. The current trajectory of fear and misunderstanding is unsustainable for global harmony and progress and we need to be mindful of them.”
A panel discussion followed, featuring distinguished speakers who explored various dimensions of Islamophobia. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Enes Bayrakli from Türkiye discussed the nature and roots of Islamophobia and Muslim-opposed racism. Dr. Imam Shams Ali from Indonesia examined the factors contributing to Islamophobia and proposed strategies towards combating it. Mr. Raza Ahmad Rumi from Pakistan focused on the dangerous manifestations of Islamophobia in today’s world, particularly in India and the urgent need for effective measures to counteract them.
The event emphasized the crucial role of international cooperation and community engagement in tackling Islamophobia. Consulate Generals reiterated their governments’ dedication to promoting mutual respect and understanding among diverse communities, reaffirming their commitment to ongoing collaborative endeavors in this critical endeavor.
Dr. Imam Shams Ali from Indonesia highlighted the double standards of US commission on international religious freedom
“In this country that this particular department within the US State Department had evaluated the discrimination against the Muslims in America or in Europe as well so this is a mistreatment of Islam to be honest here secondly every time that you find the followers of Islam amid wrong buildings and evils Islam is directly to be victimized taken as a sources and oftentimes my Pakistani brothers have paid all of having besides a lot about those treatment of the minority Christian in Pakistan on some occasional Indonesia but now we found that these people that talk about the mistreatment of the Muslims in the West in Europe and also here in the United States the killing of boy in Chicago recently the shooting of three students present in United States nobody talked about that when is US permission and human on its national religious freedom I just wanted to say that Islam had been mistreated for a long time”
Dr. Imam added that since then I realized that it’s impossible for me to fight against hatred misunderstanding and phobia towards Islam without the helping of my friends so I reach them out.
“I said to them listen my friends I know that you’re facing tremendous so-called endorsement they said yes we are facing tremendous slum form don’t you think that Islamophobia is your fight and anti-Semitism is my fight we can actually send one another and it’s become a motto since 2002 a motto that we are fighting for one another”
Speaking in a panel discussion from Pakistan, Raza Ahmed Rumi emphasized the importance of small actions leading to significant outcomes and suggested that various Muslim organizations in New York should form a network to facilitate better coordination and awareness.
“I think 13 consult generals can decide to form a kind of network of all Muslim organizations in the greater New York area and create or allow or enable a network to emerge so that they count as others and remark would know more than being. I think that’s the best way to bring in young girls and boys from New York, high school and college students. They’re free in the summer. They have time offer them internships. Let them develop their skills of writing. Develop their media skills. I mean I’m a media person. So that’s what I would like to emphasize. I think by this way we can train a whole next generation of writers, social media savvy young generation because that is what the world that we are living in. And I think that is something very easily can be done.”
Raza Rumi expressed concern over China’s treatment of its Muslim minority, emphasizing that the government’s efforts to assimilate and erase Muslim identity are troubling. He urged China’s allies, including Pakistan, to address this issue publicly despite their tendency to discuss it privately to avoid embarrassing China.
“I think what is happening to the weaker community in China is a matter of serious concern. China denies it. The friends of Chinese government say no idea you know it is exaggerated or it should be looked into but the reality. Is that we know that there is a whole project in China to assimilate and raise Muslim identity. I just read the Guardian UK that one of the the the 2 domes of mosques have also been raised to flatten the and make them adapt to the Chinese architectural standards.
In a resounding call to action against Islamophobia, the consulate generals of Pakistan, Türkiye and Indonesia urged global awareness and solidarity. As the event concluded, their collective voices resonate, pledging to continue the fight for tolerance, understanding, and justice for all.
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