NEW YORK: The OIC Group in New York organized a high-level event to commemorate the “International Day to Combat Islamophobia”.
Following the tragic Christchurch terrorist attack two years ago, the Foreign Ministers of the OIC adopted a resolution designating March 15 as an International Day to Combat lslamophobia.
The high-level event was aimed at effectively raising awareness as well as combating the rising phenomenon of lslamophobia and anti-Muslim hatred.
The President of the UN General Assembly, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the Assistant Secretary-General of the OIC, and the UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) along with a number of Ministers and Permanent Representatives of the UN Member States in New York addressed the event.
Assistant Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Amb. Tarig Bakhiet delivers #OIC General Secretariat’s statement during the OIC Group at UN’s High-level Event in Commemoration of the “International Day to Combat #Islamophobia“. #StandUpAgainstIslamophobia#StopIslamophobia pic.twitter.com/RN4GmKGEIC
— OIC (@OIC_OCI) March 17, 2021
While addressing the event, the Foreign Minister of Pakistan Shah Mahmood Qureshi, reiterated the call for resolute action against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, negative stereotyping, and stigmatization including Islamophobia.
Qureshi underlined that commemorating this day globally would raise international awareness about increasing Islamophobia. It would also serve to promote the message of tolerance, peaceful co-existence, interfaith and cultural harmony, sending out a strong message of respect for human dignity for all.
Today, speaking at the @OIC_OCI Group event in Commemoration of International Day to Combat Islamophobia in New York, i affirmed Pakistan stands resolutely against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, negative stereotyping and stigmatization.
— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) March 17, 2021
We believe commemorating this day globally will raise int’l awareness about increasing Islamophobia. It also further serves to promote the message of tolerance, peaceful co-existence, interfaith & cultural harmony, sending out a strong msg of respect for human dignity, for all. https://t.co/vTZ6LARFgy
— Shah Mahmood Qureshi (@SMQureshiPTI) March 17, 2021
A number of delegations including the High Representative of the UN Alliance of Civilization, fully supported the decision by the Council of Foreign Ministers of the OIC to designate March 15 as an “International Day to Combat Islamophobia” each year.
It may be recalled that Prime Minister Imran Khan has been the leading voice in raising awareness on the grave consequences of rising Islamophobia across the globe.
In line with his vision, Pakistan presented a Resolution to designate March 15 as the ‘International Day to Combat Islamophobia’ at the 47th Session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) held in Niger’s Capital Niamey on November 27-28, 2020.
The OIC is now working with the international community to commemorate this Day at the global level. Most speakers at today’s event raised concerns about the global resurgence in Islamophobia and anti-Muslim violence, fueled by populism, hate speech, and lack of proper knowledge and understanding of Islam.
It was also underscored that Islamophobia has taken many forms including negative profiling, mob lynchings by cow vigilantes, discriminatory laws, attacks on women for wearing hijabs, travel bans on Muslims, negative propaganda and disinformation campaigns against Muslims on media, manifestos of far-right parties, deliberate vandalism of Islamic symbols and holy sites, and attempts to link and equate Islam with terrorism.
In this regard, participants urged the UN Secretary General and relevant human rights mechanisms and special procedures to urgently undertake joint action on discrimination and violence emanating from Islamophobia.
