The UN General Assembly approved a resolution on Tuesday setting March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia. The resolution was introduced by Pakistan.
The resolution, adopted with consensus by the 193-member world body and co-sponsored by 55 mainly Muslim countries, emphasises the right to freedom of religion and belief and recalls a 1981 resolution calling for the elimination of all forms of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief.
It expresses deep concern at the overall rise in instances of discrimination, intolerance and violence, regardless of the actors, directed against members of many religions and other communities in various parts of the world, including cases motivated by Islamophobia, antisemitism, Christianophobia and prejudices against persons of other religions or beliefs.
The resolution asks all countries, UN bodies, international and regional organisations, civil society, private sector and faith-based organisations to organise and support high-visibility events aimed at effectively increasing awareness of all levels about curbing Islamophobia and to observe the new International Day to Combat Islamophobia.
The prime minister, as he congratulated the Muslim Ummah, said “our voice against the rising tide of Islamophobia has been heard”.
The premier shared that United Nations, comprising 193-member states, has adopted a landmark resolution introduced by Pakistan, on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), designating 15 March as “International Day to Combat Islamophobia”.
The OIC observes March 15 as the day to combat Islamophobia every year after the organisation passed a resolution — presented by Pakistan — at the 47th session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in the year in November 2020.
PM Imran Khan has raised his voice against the rising trend of Islamophobia at international forums intermittently, including at the UN, and called on the global community to combat the challenge.
In January, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had said that Islamophobia is not acceptable at any cost and vowed to make his country safer for Muslims.
In December 2021, Russian President Vladimir Putin had said insulting Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) does not count as freedom of expression.
Insults to the Holy Prophet (PBUH) are a “violation of religious freedom and the violation of the sacred feelings of people who profess Islam,” Putin had said.
Even elsewhere, decisions to ban or limit the sale of halal meat, as in Europe, along with attempts by far-right parties in the West to demonise Muslims, illustrate the need for a concerted effort to combat Islamophobia. Pakistan has done the right thing by bringing this key issue to the global stage.
In a world riven by hatred, efforts are needed to promote tolerance and pluralism. This includes allowing followers of all faiths to practise their beliefs freely, while Muslim states also have a responsibility to protect their minorities from extremists. Unfortunately, populists and rabble rousers always exploit the schisms in society.
The prime minister, as he congratulated the Muslim Ummah, said “our voice against the rising tide of Islamophobia has been heard”.
