NEW YORK: Prime Minister Imran Khan, while addressing a high-level roundtable discussion on “Conference against Hate Speech” said that hate against Islam increased across the world after the incident of 9/11.

“Terrorism doesn’t come from any religion. Islam was criticised and targeted after 9/11 took place. Thinking of the world about Islam changed all around the world. That’s very sad,” Khan said, adding that terrorism was linked with Islam after the US was hit by terrorist attack on September 9.

“Islam is a religion revealed to mankind with the intention of presenting a peaceful life. Almighty Allah calls all people to live by the moral values He sets so that compassion, mercy, peace, and love can be experienced all over the world,” he said.

“Let me tell you, 75 percent of suicide bombers belonged to Hindu religion before 9/11. But no one talks about it. Even no one links Hinduism to terrorism despite their increasing hate and torture towards Muslims.”

“Terrorism has no religion. Tamil Tigers launched suicide attacks in Sri Lanka, even before the 9/11 attack in the USA. But, India has given the freedom struggle in Kashmir the name of terrorism.”

“Muslims in West are facing the issue of Islamophobia and they are being targeted for preaching Islam. The world should change its behavior towards Muslims. They are not terrorists.”

“It is necessary to curb hate speech. There is need to take effective steps to curb Islamophobia and hate speech narrative.”

“Giving less importance to any community forces it to step forward towards extremism. We should see everyone equally.”

News Pakistan