ISLAMABAD: The first International Day to combat Islamophobia is being observed across the globe today (March 15).
In his message, the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the day is a call for action to stamp out the menace of anti-Muslim hatred.
He said that discrimination diminishes us all, and we must stand up against it.
International Day to Combat Islamophobia
On March 10, the United Nations commemorated the first-ever International Day to Combat Islamophobia with a special event in the General Assembly Hall.
At the event, speakers upheld the need for concrete action in the face of rising hatred, discrimination, and violence against Muslims.
The high-level event was co-convened by Pakistan as Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari underlined that Islam is a ‘religion of peace, tolerance, and pluralism.’
“This Islamophobic narrative is not just confined to extremist, marginal propaganda, but regrettably has found acceptance by sections of mainstream media, policymakers, academia, and state machinery,” Bilawal added.
Last November, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers, in its 47th session, unanimously adopted the resolution moved by Pakistan and Turkey to observe March 15 as the “International Day to Combat Islamophobia”— calling for global dialogue that promotes tolerance, peace, and respect for human rights and religious diversity.
Pakistan seeks end to faith-based hatred: PM
In a tweet, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistan joins the world community in seeking an end to all forms of hatred, profiling, and discrimination against Muslims based on faith.
He voiced his support for ending global Islamophobia, saying Islam, like other religions, stands for tolerance, respect, peace, and human development.
On International Day to Combat Islamophobia, Pakistan joins the world community in seeking an end to all forms of hatred, profiling & discrimination against Muslims on the basis of faith. Islam, like other religions, stands all for tolerance, respect, peace & human development.
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) March 15, 2023
