Iran calls on international community to fight Islamophobia, act against anti-Muslim hatred

Iran's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations Amir Saeid Iravani has strongly condemned any violence against persons based on religion or belief, stating that the time has come for the international community to combat Islamophobia and take actions against hatred towards Muslims, who constitute a large portion of the world population.

He made the plea at a UN General Assembly event on Friday in commemoration of the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, which takes place on March 15 every year.

 “Today’s meeting represents the strong determination of the participants to address the issue of Islamophobia, including hatred, discrimination, terrorist attacks and violence against Muslims and their religious principles, beliefs and rituals,” the senior Iranian diplomat stated.

“Currently, the world continues to witness the relentless aggression of the occupying Zionist regime against al-Quds and Muslims across the occupied Palestinian territories. Moreover, the Holy Qur'an is desecrated in some European countries under the pretext of freedom of expression,” he said. 

“Over the past few decades, we have seen a wide network of media outlets, which under the guise of news dissemination, have established a hostile and offensive atmosphere against Muslims in violation of their human rights,” Iravani added.

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The Iranian diplomat said the time has come for the international community, especially world bodies and the countries calling themselves advocates of human rights, to fight against hatred against Muslims, who constitute a large portion of the world population.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran strongly condemns any violence against persons based on their belief and religion, and expresses sympathy with the victims of Islamophobic attacks anywhere in the world.

“It also underscores the importance of the International Day to Combat Islamophobia in drawing attention to the culture of tolerance and peace on the basis of respect for human rights and diversity of religions and beliefs at all levels,” Iravani noted.

On March 15, 2022, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 76/254, designating March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia.  

The resolution invites all member states, relevant organizations of the United Nations, other international and regional organizations, and civil society, private sector and faith-based organizations to observe the international day in an appropriate manner.

European states accused of Islamophobia, suppressing Muslim civil society

Muslim civil society organizations, at a major security and human rights conference held in Poland on Thursday, warned about the alarming surge of state-sponsored Islamophobia in Europe.

It recognizes “with deep concern an overall rise in instances of discrimination, intolerance and violence, regardless of the actors, directed against members of many religious and other communities.”

The resolution maintains that terrorism “cannot and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization or ethnic group," and calls for "strengthened international efforts to foster a global dialogue on the promotion of a culture of tolerance and peace at all levels.”

The resolution was introduced by Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). It marks the day when a gunman entered two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, killing 51 victims and injuring 40 others, on March 15, 2019.

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