Rabat – To mark the International Day against Islamophobia on Friday, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution calling for decisive action to combat religious intolerance and hatred targeting Muslims.
Initiated by Pakistan and backed by the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the resolution received overwhelming support, with 115 votes in favor and 44 abstentions.
The resolution, titled “Measures to Combat Islamophobia,” faced contention with proposed amendments from the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom, both of which were ultimately rejected.
One of the proposed amendments sought to broaden the scope by replacing specific references to attacks against Muslims with a more general reference to religious intolerance.
The second proposed amendment aimed to appoint a focal point rather than a Special Envoy, a move opposed by the Pakistani delegation who argued for the necessity of a dedicated envoy to address the complexities of Islamophobia comprehensively.
Central to the resolution is the call for the appointment of a Special Envoy of the United Nations tasked specifically with combating Islamophobia.
The adoption of this resolution comes at a critical juncture, as incidents of Islamophobia continue to rise globally.
From hate speech and negative stereotypes, to violent attacks on mosques and individuals, the scourge of Islamophobia poses a significant threat to the fundamental principles of tolerance, diversity, and respect for human rights.
In addition to calling for the appointment of a Special Envoy, the resolution urges member states to implement robust laws and policies to address religious intolerance and combat the spread of hatred and incitement to violence against Muslims.
The resolution builds on previous efforts by the United Nations to condemn acts of religious hatred, including the burning of the Quran, and to recognize such actions as violations of international law.
