Pakistan PM congratulates Muslim world as UN adopts resolution against Islamophobia

Islamabad: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan congratulated the Muslim world as the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) unanimously adopted a “landmark resolution” introduced by Pakistan on March 15.

Khan welcomed the decision as the UN has designated March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia. The resolution was introduced by Pakistan on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). It marks the day when a gunman killed 51 Muslims and injured 40 others in attacks on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.

The resolution, adopted by consensus by the 193 members and co-sponsored by 55 mainly Muslim countries, and calls for the elimination of all forms of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief.

Khan congratulates Muslim world

Prime Minister Imran Khan congratulated the Muslim world saying “our voice against the rising tide of Islamophobia has been heard and the UN has adopted a landmark resolution introduced by Pakistan, on behalf of OIC, designating 15 March as International Day to Combat Islamophobia”. He said that UN has “finally recognised the grave challenge confronting the world: of Islamophobia, respect for religious symbols and practices and of curtailing systematic hate speech and discrimination against Muslims,” adding that “Next challenge is to ensure implementation of this landmark resolution.”

Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said the resolution reflected the sentiments of more than 1.5 billion Muslims around the world. “Prime Minister Imran Khan was the first Muslim leader to raise the issue of Islamophobia at the UN” in his 2019 UNGA address and “has since been regularly advocating the need to effectively combat the scourge of Islamophobia at various regional and international forums.”

“Islamophobia is a reality”

Introducing the resolution at UNGA in New York on March 15, Pakistan’s UN envoy Munir Akram said that “Islamophobia is a reality” that is proliferating in several parts of the world in the form of hate speech, discrimination and violence against Muslims.

“Such acts of discrimination, hostility and violence towards Muslims —— individuals and communities —— constitute grave violations of their human rights, and violate their freedom of religion and belief,” Akram said. It is particularly alarming as “it has emerged as a new form of racism characterised by xenophobia, negative profiling and stereotyping of Muslims,” he added.

He also highlighted the gender aspect of Islamophobia as girls and women are “being targeted due to mode of their dress and the general notion that Muslim women are oppressed and thus must be liberated.”

The resolution aims to raise global awareness about the growing phenomenon of Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hatred, send a clear message that the world opposes all forms of Islamophobia and promote the message of tolerance, peaceful coexistence and interfaith and cultural harmony among all religions, races and nations, he said.