Pakistan’s representative to the UN, Maleeha Lodhi, on Wednesday, warned that the rise in anti-Islam sentiments was fast emerging as a threat to global peace.
She said this while sponsoring a resolution presented by Turkey in the UN General Assembly (UNGA) that strongly condemned continuing violence and terrorism against individuals, particularly those belonging to religious minorities, in the name of religion or beliefs.
Through the resolution, titled, ‘Combating terrorism and other acts of violence based on religion or belief”, the UNGA condemned “in the strongest terms the heinous, cowardly terrorist attack aimed at Muslim worshippers in Christchurch, New Zealand.”
Urging all states to protect and promote the freedom of all religions and beliefs, the assembly sought to foster a domestic environment of religious tolerance, peace and respect.
Introducing the resolution, Turkey’s Foreign Minister, noted that the international community must take a stand against the spiral of hate.
“Islamophobia and racism go hand in hand,” he added. The minister slammed politicians for using distorted historical narratives and toxic conspiracy theories to equate Islam to terrorism.
Quoting the poet Rumi, Çavu?o?lu said, “Listen with ears of tolerance, see with eyes of compassion, speak the language of love.” The UN chief also pledged to help protect religious sites at New York mosque.
Lodhi asserted that Pakistan has and would always support efforts to bring nations and religions closer. She talked about nine victims of the Christchurch attack who hailed from Pakistan. Ambassador Lodhi noted that profiling and stigmatizing people from one country led to drastic consequences. Explaining his country’s position on the vote, the representative of New Zealand asserted that they welcomed the focus of the text on strengthened international efforts on a global dialogue to foster a culture of tolerance, diversity and peace.
“New Zealand is humbled by the outpouring of support from the international community and particularly grateful to the global Muslim community who stood with us during these dark days,” he added.
Recalling the attack in a Quebec City mosque two years ago, Canada’s delegate recalled that whenever such violence occurred–whether in mosques, churches, synagogues or on the streets–it must be called what it was: neo Nazism, white supremacism, Islamophobia, and anti Semitism.
The representative of Israel further asserted that the negotiation process over the resolution could have been more inclusive and transparent. He condemned acts of violence against any person on the basis of belief or religion. The European Union’s delegate said, “attacks on places of worship are attacks on all of us who value diversity,” while adding that sensitive issues required careful consideration. The deliberations on the draft were “somewhat compressed,” the representative added.
Saudi diplomat noted that terrorist elements were spreading their message through electronic and social media. Meanwhile, a lack of knowledge about other communities was called by Malaysian representative as making a contribution to growing xenophobia.
Iran’s delegate added that measures including a Muslim travel ban and the usage of the term “Islamic terrorism” were encouraging Islamophobia.
Kazakhstan’s representative called for dialogue between civilisations.