MANHATTAN: UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in his message on the occasion of Int‘l Day to Combat Islamophobia being observed on Friday (15th March, 2024) has urged the world leaders to make commitment together to promote mutual respect and understanding, foster social cohesion, and build peaceful, just and inclusive societies for all.
Antonio Guterres noted: “The Day occurs at a time when we see a rising tide of anti-Muslim hate and bigotry in many parts of the world”. He said institutional discrimination and other barriers were violating the human rights and dignity of Muslims: “Divisive rhetoric and misrepresentation are stigmatizing communities. Online hate speech is fueling real-life violence”.
Antonio Guterres said 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.The UN Secretary General said: “We must confront and root out bigotry in all its forms”. He urged world leaders to condemn inflammatory discourse and safeguard religious freedom.
Urging the digital platforms to protect users from harassment, he emphasized that everyone must unite to combat intolerance, stereotypes and bias.