EVENTS: The Organization of Islamic Cooperation and Office of the Director-General will organize a special High-level event to Commemorate the International Day to Combat Islamophobia 2024 on 15 March 2024, 10:00am – 1:00pm from the united Nations office in Geneva. Watch the commemoration!
The International Day to Combat Islamophobia occurs at a time when we see a rising tide of anti-Muslim hate and bigotry in many parts of the world.
Institutional discrimination and other barriers are violating the human rights and dignity of Muslims. Divisive rhetoric and misrepresentation are stigmatizing communities. Online hate speech is fueling real-life violence.
Much of this disturbing trend is part of a wider pattern of attacks against religious groups and vulnerable populations, also including Jews, minority Christian communities and others.
We must confront and root out bigotry in all its forms. Leaders must condemn inflammatory discourse and safeguard religious freedom. Digital platforms must moderate hateful content and protect users from harassment. And everyone must unite to combat intolerance, stereotypes and bias.
Together, let us commit to promoting mutual respect and understanding, foster social cohesion, and build peaceful, just and inclusive societies for all.
Statement by the United Nations General Assembly President at the High-Level Event to commemorate the International Day to Combat Islamophobia 2024.
Institutional discrimination and other barriers are violating the human rights and dignity of Muslims. Divisive rhetoric and misrepresentation are stigmatizing communities. Online hate speech is fueling real-life violence.
Much of this disturbing trend is part of a wider pattern of attacks against religious groups and vulnerable populations, also including Jews, minority Christian communities and others.
We must confront and root out bigotry in all its forms. Leaders must condemn inflammatory discourse and safeguard religious freedom. Digital platforms must moderate hateful content and protect users from harassment. And everyone must unite to combat intolerance, stereotypes and bias.
Together, let us commit to promoting mutual respect and understanding, foster social cohesion, and build peaceful, just and inclusive societies for all.
Statement by the United Nations General Assembly President at the High-Level Event to commemorate the International Day to Combat Islamophobia 2024.
Your Excellency, Mr. Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Mauritanians Abroad of Mauritania, and Chair of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the OIC Member States,
Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,
Two years ago, this General Assembly adopted a momentous resolution – proclaiming this day, 15 March, as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia.
This came in the wake of the senseless Christchurch massacre – where 55 innocent Muslims brutally lost their lives.
On this important day, as President of the General Assembly, I stand in solidarity with all Muslims around the world – particularly with all those deliberately targeted by any acts of Islamophobia; any form of racism; and any form discrimination.
Excellencies,
Freedom of religion, belief or worship; and freedom of opinion and expression, are interdependent, interrelated and mutually reinforcing.
The right to one’s religious belief or worship cannot – and must not – be the basis for any form of intolerance and discrimination.
Unfortunately, we are witnessing an alarming surge in discrimination, intolerance, and violence against members of many religions in various parts of the world, including cases motivated by Islamophobia.
Hate speech, in particular, has become a sickening poison in the hearts and minds of those who perpetrate it – and a relentless torment on those who are targeted by it.
I categorically deplore all acts of violence against Muslims and persons of all religions and beliefs – as well as attacks against sacred places of worship, religious sites and shrines. Such demeaning and dastardly acts cannot be hidden behind the cover of freedom of expression.
Excellencies,
Intolerance, xenophobia and hate speech – both online and offline – are fueling the exponential increase in hate crimes and conflict, as well as socioeconomic marginalization.
In particular, Muslim women – in many regions of the world – face multiple forms of discrimination based on their religion,gender and ethnicity.
Not only is this morally wrong, it is a flagrant violation of their human rights and dignity.
Every individual has the right to live without fear of violence or any form of prejudice.
Upholding freedoms – including those of religion, opinion, and assembly – is crucial to combating intolerance and discrimination of any shape or form.
States have the primary obligation to protect and defend all human rights for all – and to eradicate all forms of racism and discrimination.
But – as responsible global citizens – we, individually, are also duty bound to contribute to combating any form of discrimination; any form of incitement to hatred and violence against Muslims,and by extension, against persons of other belief systems.
This is particularly important at this moment, in the context of the ongoing military confrontation in the Middle East – which has led to an alarming rise in both Islamophobia and antisemitism around the world.
As President of General Assembly, I stand firmly against racism and all forms of discrimination and call upon the entire international community and on civil society to repudiate racism and xenophobia in all its forms and manifestations, including islamophobia.
Together, let us end all forms of intolerance and discrimination.
As we mark this International Day to Combat Islamophobia – which this year coincides with the Holy Month of Ramadan – let us stand respectfully, shoulder-to-shoulder, in solidarity with our 2 billion Muslim brothers and sisters.
I take this opportunity to wish a blessed month and Ramadan Kareem to all Muslims around the world. This is a moment to embrace empathy and compassion; the beauty and richness of our diversity; and that which unite rather than devide us, that is, our common humanity.
Let us not give in to the forces of division and hate, but rather rally for dialogue, tolerance, respect, understading, harmony and compassion for all others – always.
I thank you for your kind attention.
Excellencies,
Distinguished guests,
Al Salamu Alikom and Ramdan Kareem.
It gives me a great honour to be addressing this High-Level event commemorating the International Day to Combat Islamophobia.
I wish to applaud the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and particularly the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, the Chair of the 49th session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, for focusing attention and calling for action, to curb and put an end to Islamophobia.
It is alarming to see the overall rise in instances of discrimination, intolerance and violence, directed against members of many religious communities in various parts of the world, including cases motivated by Islamophobia, antisemitism and prejudices against Christian minorities as well as other faith communities.
It is particularly heart breaking that many Muslims observing the holy month of Ramadan are suffering wars and conflicts.
Around the world, Muslims are still facing stigmatization, hate speech and structural bias.
Their fundamental human rights are being compromised.
Their dignity undermined.
Manifestations of discrimination, bigotry and violence against Muslims including the desecration of their holy book, mosques and sacred sites are unjustifiable and are utterly rejected.
Across our cross-cutting activities, the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations promotes interreligious and intercultural dialogue, emphasizes respect for religious and cultural diversity with the aim of advancing a culture of tolerance and respect among individuals, societies and nations.
I stand ready with my office to work closely with you to address Islamophobia through mobilizing concerted actions towards a paradigm of mutual respect among diverse cultures and religions.
Concluding, I wish to extend my warmest wishes to all Muslims around the world on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan.
Thank you.
Statement by a group of un independent expert on the International Day to Combat Islamophobia 2024; March 15th.
“In proclaiming 15 March the International Day to Combat Islamophobia in 2022, the UN General Assembly called for “strengthened international efforts to foster a global dialogue on the promotion of a culture of tolerance and peace at all levels”.
Yet today, hate entrepreneurs, political parties, armed groups, religious leaders and even State actors around the world, are trampling on respect for diversity of religions and beliefs, discriminating, violating human rights, and overlooking or even attempting to justify these violations.
Acts of harassment, intimidation, violence and incitement based on religion or belief have risen sharply across the world last year, reaching alarming levels, shocking our conscience and creating a climate of fear and deep distrust.
We urge States to ground their responses to all forms of religious hatred, including Islamophobia, in the universal values, principles and legal framework of international human rights.
Orchestrated public burnings of the Holy Qur’an are deplorable. Expressions of religious intolerance engender deep hurt and fear at individual and community levels, and must be condemned.
Where advocacy of religious hatred constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, it must be prohibited by law in accordance with international standards.
During this holy month of Ramadan, we are appalled at the continued refusal by Israel to allow adequate humanitarian assistance and food aid to be provided to the mainly Muslim civilian population in Gaza despite the widespread hunger and signs of severe malnutrition. We are seriously concerned about undue restrictions imposed on access to the Al Aqsa Mosque. These restrictions are particularly alarming, in the context of monumental loss of life and destruction of a significant number of places of worship in Gaza. Cultural property is protected in international humanitarian law during armed conflict since it recognises damage to the cultural property of any people as resulting in damage to the cultural heritage of all mankind.
Physical attacks – including killings, harassment, verbal attacks and death threats – motivated by the perceived religious affiliation of the victims are an unacceptable failure of the State to protect all its citizens in line with its obligations. In too many countries in the lead up to elections, State and non-State actors feed religious tensions and promote discriminatory laws and policies against Muslim minorities to gain political advantage. Recent tensions in relation to the Babri Masjid – now Ram Mandir – are a case in point.
Across the world, we have witnessed attacks on mosques, cultural centres, schools and even private property belonging to Muslims.
States and faith-based actors have human rights responsibilities, and they have to step in to counter such violations, in line with the Rabat Plan of Action. The UN Faith for Rights framework provides concrete implementation guidance, while stakeholders can also use the #Faith4Rights toolkit to encourage respect for religious diversity.
In observing the International Day to Combat Islamophobia this year, we stand in solidarity with those that have suffered intolerance, discrimination, violations and violence, purely on account of being Muslims. Nobody should suffer fear for having or manifesting their religion or belief. Everyone should feel safe and benefit from the equal protection of their human rights, which must be guaranteed by all States.”
LIVESTREAM: Commemoration of the International Day to Combat Islamophobia 2024.
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