New York: Europe and the Arabs
On the occasion of the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called for adherence to the values ​​of equality, human rights, and dignity, and "to build inclusive societies where all people can live in peace and harmony, regardless of their religion."
In his message to the General Assembly, which held a meeting on Friday to commemorate the international day and discuss international efforts to combat this scourge, he said that the holy month of Ramadan has arrived while many Muslims live in "fear of discrimination, exclusion, and even fear of violence."
He emphasized that the phenomenon of intolerance against Muslims is growing, manifested in "racial profiling, discriminatory policies that violate human rights and dignity," and violence against individuals and places of worship.
This reality is only one aspect of a broader scourge of intolerance, extremist ideologies, and attacks against religious communities and vulnerable groups.
“But whenever one group is attacked, the rights and freedoms of all others are at risk,” he said. “So we, as a global family, must reject and eradicate intolerance. Governments must promote social cohesion and include protection for religious freedom. Online platforms must curb hate speech and harassment. We must all speak out against intolerance, xenophobia, and discrimination,” according to the UN Daily News, a copy of which we received on Saturday morning. The message was delivered on Guterres’ behalf by Earl Courtenay Rattray, his Chef de Cabinet, as Guterres visits Bangladesh, where he fasted and broke his fast with Rohingya refugees as part of his long-standing annual tradition of solidarity with marginalized Muslim communities around the world. In his personal capacity, Rattray said that the global Muslim community comprises nearly two billion people who embody exceptional cultural, ethnic, and linguistic diversity. He emphasized that “this fabric of humanity represents not only the richness of the Islamic tradition, but also the universal values ​​of peace, compassion, and dignity that enrich our shared global community.” He emphasized that the normalization of hate speech and discrimination “weaken the fabric of our humanity,” and called on all to stand against prejudice and eradicate intolerance in all its forms.
He expressed his satisfaction with the many interfaith initiatives around the world in which religious leaders come together to set powerful examples of dialogue and harmony. He particularly noted the Declaration on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together—co-authored by His Holiness Pope Francis and His Eminence the Grand Imam Dr. Ahmed el-Tayeb, Sheikh of Al-Azhar—which “remains a model of compassion and human solidarity.” He said: "These initiatives remind us that our common humanity transcends differences of belief, culture, and background. So, on this important day, let us stand in solidarity with Muslims around the world. Let us renew our commitment to education, dialogue, and understanding across religious and cultural differences."
For his part, the High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, Miguel Angel Moratinos, said that discrimination against Muslims is not an isolated pattern, but rather part of "the resurgence of ethno-nationalism, neo-Nazism, white supremacist ideology, and violence targeting vulnerable groups, including Muslim and Jewish communities, Christian minorities, and other religious communities."
Moratinos emphasized that people around the world must be allowed to practice their faith in peace and without fear, and that all places of worship and reflection must be "safe havens, not scenes of terror or bloodshed."
He said that allowing "toxic hatred" against one religious community to continue unaddressed will "ignite the flames of hatred" against other faiths. He added: "All forms of hatred must be eradicated, wherever and whenever they occur. This means advancing policies that respect human rights and protect religious and cultural identities, especially those of minorities. It means investing in social cohesion by encouraging initiatives that promote dialogue, mutual respect, and the protection of human rights and the dignity of all."
General Assembly President Philippe Yang said the International Day was observed during the holy month of Ramadan, during which "the profound greatness of Islam as a religion of peace, mercy, and community is universally manifest."
However, he noted that extremists were using Islam as a "weapon," spreading fear and hatred to achieve their malignant goals, with grave consequences for the vast majority of Muslims and other peaceful worshippers.
He added: "We cannot accept the misuse of Islam for malicious purposes, and we cannot allow Islamophobia to incite unjustified hatred and violent attacks against an entire community."
He said that Muslim women, in particular, face increasing hostility due to "the deeply unfair portrayal of them as persecuted because of their faith." He highlighted the need to utilize all governmental, media, educational, and societal means to promote policies that respect the freedom of religion and belief for all people everywhere.
He said that women and youth must be given "a leading position" in these efforts as agents of change. He added, "They have the power to establish justice and inclusion in our policies at the local, national, and global levels."
"Humanity is stronger than hatred"
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa, Secretary-General of the Muslim World League, said that "Islamophobia" often stems from a lack of knowledge about Islam, from being influenced by extremist political and popular discourse, or from judging Islam based on the actions of isolated groups that "do not represent Muslims and have no connection to the true nature of Islam. They direct their violent and terrorist extremism toward the Muslim world, just like others, and reality bears witness to this."

He emphasized that Islamophobia, in its logical analysis, is not a fear of Islam, "but rather a fear of knowledge, a fear of truth, and a fear of recognizing that we are all human beings equal in human dignity and rights."
Sheikh Al-Issa also emphasized that Islamophobia not only harms Muslims, but also fosters extremism and divisions within diverse societies. "According to the concept of hatred, it is considered one of the foremost threats to the achievement of inclusive citizenship, as stipulated in civilized constitutions, international laws, principles, and norms."
He said that the international community has a responsibility to build a world of tolerance and love, and to embrace the inevitability of difference, diversity, and pluralism. "The Creator, Glory be to Him, did not decree these cosmic laws for us to fight and quarrel, but rather for us to come together, get to know each other, and understand one another."
He emphasized that the international community has a responsibility to contribute to raising awareness, "especially in the minds of children and young people, to protect them from the infiltration of hateful behavior into their thoughts. Humans are not born hating, but are taught to hate. Therefore, we have a responsibility not to allow them to be taught to hate." He said that this day is not only a day to combat Islamophobia, "but a day to prove that humanity is stronger than hatred, that love is stronger than fear, and that justice is stronger than bullying and oppression."
A scourge rooted in history
For his part, the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Hussein Ibrahim Taha, said that the rise of Islamophobia in some political and social discourses "threatens our fundamental principles of human dignity" and requires collective action and an innovative response.
In a video message to the attendees, he emphasized that dialogue is "essential to building lasting bridges of understanding," calling for a renewed commitment "to creating a world where everyone can practice their religion in complete freedom, where diversity becomes cultural richness, and mutual respect triumphs over prejudice."
On behalf of the OIC members, Pakistani Ambassador Munir Akram said that the phenomenon of Islamophobia is rooted in history. Despite the development of human rights and tolerance standards over the past 80 years, he emphasized that hatred and intolerance have spread recently, especially against Muslims. He stressed that prejudice against Muslims is being fueled rather than suppressed in many places, and that "the massacre we witnessed in Gaza is yet another clear example of anti-Islamic hatred and racism."
Mr. Akram said that Islamophobia is not confined to one region but is now being used "as an outlet for political progress and populism, feeding the worst human instincts of fear, intolerance, and hatred." He called on governments to ensure that their policies and laws reflect an unequivocal commitment to religious tolerance.
He added, "No country can claim to be a true democracy while systematically alienating and marginalizing its Muslim citizens."
The Pakistani ambassador expressed OIC members' appreciation for the efforts of some Western countries, including Sweden and Denmark, which have enacted laws to address Islamophobia, including criminalizing the desecration of the Quran, "ensuring that freedom of expression is not misused to promote hatred and intolerance," and urged all countries to follow suit. Limits on Freedom of Expression
On behalf of the Arab Group, Jordanian Ambassador Mahmoud Daifallah Al-Hamoud said that today's meeting represents a pivotal milestone in strengthening international efforts to confront the rising tide of hatred and discrimination against Muslims, and to consolidate the principles of respect for religions, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence.
He emphasized that there is a worrying increase in hate speech, incitement to violence, and discrimination against Muslims, particularly on social media, emphasizing that freedom of expression "should not be used as a tool to spread intolerance and fuel discord."
He said that the Arab Group emphasizes the importance of monitoring and analyzing media content and digital platforms "to combat negative stereotypes in cooperation with social media companies, and to develop a code of conduct prohibiting incitement to hatred."
He called for the establishment of an international legal framework to combat Islamophobia and the creation of accountability mechanisms to hold perpetrators of hate crimes accountable and ensure support for victims. He stated that the Arab Group looks forward to the appointment of Mr. Miguel Martinez as the United Nations Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia, which would contribute to coordinating international efforts to address this escalating phenomenon. It's worth noting that the General Assembly designated March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia in 2022, and adopted a resolution last year on this occasion entitled "Measures to Combat Islamophobia." The resolution, among other things, calls for the appointment of a UN Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia. It also condemns any advocacy of religious hatred and incitement to discrimination, hostility, or violence against Muslims, "as evidenced by the increasing incidents of desecration of their holy book and attacks targeting mosques, religious sites, and shrines."