Saudi Arabia ‘extremely concerned’ over anti-Muslim hate
Islamophobia has become a glaring, threatening peril, says Al Wasil
Cairo: Saudi Arabia has said it is “extremely concerned” over growing hate speech and fanaticism against Muslims in the world.
Addressing the Human Rights Council in Geneva, Saudi permanent UN delegate Abdulaziz Al Wasil said that Islamophobia has become a glaring, threatening peril.
He expressed Saudi Arabia’s concern over increasing targeting of religious minorities due to their beliefs and mounting hate speech among political groups that use terminology of exclusion and marginalisation.
Negative stereotyping
In this regard, the Saudi diplomat also cited cross-border social media platforms promoting extremism, hatred and negative stereotyping of Muslims, Saudi newspaper Okaz reported.
Participating in an online forum with the UN special rapporteur on freedom of religion and belief, Al Wasil underscored the importance of consolidating values of understanding, dialogue, pluralism, inter-culture cooperation and combat ideologies of hate and violence.
It is imperative, he said, that there should be international all-out willpower to combat hate and radical speech.