Pakistan Foreign Minister warns of alarming rise in Islamophobia globally
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UN marks Islamophobia day with alarm over rising hate, discrimination against Muslims
UNITED NATIONS: This year, the International Day to Combat Islamophobia did not pass unnoticed — largely due to mounting tensions in the Middle East and their ripple effects across the globe. Pakistan, which spearheaded the 2022 UN resolution establishing the observance, underscored that anti-Muslim hatred is intensifying worldwide, with political rhetoric, digital platforms, and mainstream discourse amplifying the problem. The observance comes amid heightened global instability, particularly the ongoing conflict involving Iran, which analysts say has contributed to a fresh surge in Islamophobic narratives. Reports indicate a spike in online hate speech and dehumanising rhetoric targeting Muslims, feeding a broader climate of intolerance that the UN and allied nations have increasingly called attention to. Observed annually on March 15, the International Day commemorates the victims of the Christchurch mosque attacks, in which 51 worshippers were killed. It was designated by the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) following a resolution introduced by Pakistan on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, adopted by consensus. At a high-level UN event on March 16, the OIC reaffirmed that Islamophobia has reached “unprecedented” levels, citing its normalisation in political discourse and amplification through new technologies, including artificial intelligence. At another event, also at the UN headquarters in New York, Secretary-General António Guterres urged countries to “work together” to confront the rising tide of anti-Muslim hatred. Calling for a rejection of “the narratives of fear and exclusion,” he warned that even “subtle biases” can “shape lives, erode trust, and send a clear message about who is seen as belonging and who is not.” “The consequences are painfully real,” he said, citing harassment, intimidation, vandalism, threats, and attacks targeting Muslims and places of worship as an “assault on the values that underpin peaceful, inclusive societies everywhere.” UNGA President Annalena Baerbock highlighted the role of technology in worsening the problem. Platforms intended to connect people are now “accelerating the spread of misinformation and prejudice at an unprecedented speed,” she said, stressing that confronting Islamophobia is essential to defending “our shared humanity.” Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to the UN, Abdulaziz Alwasil, called for decisive international measures, emphasising the need for stronger legal protections, education, and enhanced cooperation among states to address anti-Muslim discrimination. Türkiye, which co-organised the UN event, emphasised a “common and resolute stance against intolerance, discrimination and violence targeting Muslims”, underscoring the need for collective international action. Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, warned that “Islamophobia today is not simply prejudice against a religion.” “It is the systematic stigmatisation of a people, the denigration of an identity, and the normalisation of hostility towards a community of nearly two billion human beings,“ he added. These narratives, he noted, “translate into tangible discrimination, including barriers in employment, unequal access to education, and profiling in law enforcement and immigration practices”. The Pakistani envoy urged the international community to “move beyond expressions of concern to collective and decisive action,” supporting a comprehensive global action plan to combat Islamophobia. Global responses In the United States, the debate over Islamophobia has taken on new urgency this week, after Republican Rep. Andy Ogles of Tennessee sparked controversy by asserting that Muslims “don’t belong in American society”. Civil rights advocates and Democratic lawmakers condemned the statement, framing it as part of a worrying trend of political Islamophobia. The US government has also supported broader international efforts, emphasising that extremism should not be associated with any faith. In Britain, lawmakers have responded with new measures. Parliament recently adopted an advisory definition of anti-Muslim hostility to help authorities identify and address discrimination, following record levels of hate crimes — nearly 45 per cent of religious hate crimes in the year ending March 2025 were directed at Muslims. At the European level, the Council of the European Union reaffirmed that all individuals have the right to practise their religion or belief without discrimination or violence. The Council called on member states to take action against intolerance and promote peaceful coexistence and mutual respect.
DawnMarch 17, 2026 at 06:48 AM UTCIslamabad calls for global action against Islamophobia
• Dar says Pakistan working with OIC members, UN envoy to counter anti-Muslim bigotry • Rhetoric against Muslims rises in US as Republican lawmakers voice problematic opinions • PTI credits Imran Khan with raising the issue at international fora ISLAMABAD: With a conflict raging in the Middle East and Muslims being increasingly targeted by anti-Islam forces in the West, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar called on the international community to not only condemn Islamophobia, but also address the structural conditions that allow it to flourish. In a message on the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, he said Pakistan is working with members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the UN Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia to develop a UN Plan of Action that would provide a structured framework to better understand, prevent, and eliminate this challenge. He pointed out Pakistan had played a pivotal role in the adoption of another UN General Assembly resolution, aimed at strengthening international efforts to counter Islamophobia, including the request for the appointment of a UN Special Envoy to address the challenge. In this regard, he said they welcomed the appointment of the United Nations Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia in May 2025, as well as the Special Envoy of OIC Secretary-General on Combating Islamophobia in May 2024, reflecting the growing international resolve to address the issue in a coordinated and sustained manner. “Pakistan calls upon all nations to undertake sustained efforts to promote mutual respect, dialogue, and understanding among communities, and to uphold the values of tolerance, dignity, and peaceful coexistence,” he further emphasised. Anti-Islam sentiment rising The foreign minister’s warning seems all the more prescient in the wake of the Iran war, as anti-Islam sentiment appears to be rising among US lawmakers. In fact, several Republican members of Congress have recently drawn criticism for sharing blatantly Islamophobic messages on social media. These included remarks by Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) targeting New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani, with one post picturing him alongside an image of the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York. Then, Representative Randy Fine (R-Fla.) wrote on X on Thursday, “We need more Islamophobia, not less. Fear of Islam is rational.” Later, Representative Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) posted that no country was “freer and safer because Muslims moved there,” describing immigration as a “national security threat,” and earlier in the week claimed that “Muslims don’t belong in American society.” Meanwhile, Representative Brandon Gill (R-Texas) also faced criticism after calling for “no more Muslims immigrating to America,” highlighting a growing wave of anti-Muslim rhetoric among some US lawmakers. Critically, there has been little attempt to censure such remarks, either from the Republican party or the US government. PTI credits Imran While condemning the growing wave of prejudice, hatred, and discrimination against Muslims, the main opposition in Pakistan PTI credited its founder and former premier Imran Khan with raising the issue at international fora. In a statement, the party said: “Unfortunately, in recent years Islamophobia has taken the form of a dangerous trend in several Western countries, where Muslims are being targeted because of their religious beliefs and identity. The world must recognise that Islam is a religion that teaches peace, tolerance, justice, and humanity. Targeting a faith followed by more than 1.5 billion Muslims based on the actions of a few individuals is not only unjust but also poses a threat to global peace.” Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2026
DawnMarch 16, 2026 at 02:52 AM UTCDar notes ‘alarming rise’ in Islamophobia, warns it worsens existing tensions and conflicts
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Sunday noted the “alarming rise” in Islamophobia and warned that it exacerbates existing tensions and conflicts, threatening world peace. He made the remarks in a statement issued on International Day to Combat Islamophobia, which is observed on March 15. “In recent years, the alarming rise in Islamophobia has manifested in deeply troubling incidents across many parts of the world, including the desecration of the Holy Quran, attacks on women for wearing the hijab, vandalism of mosques, religious profiling, and the open expression of anti-Muslim hatred in public discourse and media,” Dar noted. “Islamophobia exacerbates existing tensions and conflicts, creating a vicious cycle that threatens international peace and security,” he warned. He reaffirmed, “On the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, we stand in solidarity with Muslims worldwide and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to combating prejudice, discrimination, hostility, and violence directed against Muslims.” Dar highlighted that Pakistan, working closely with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), “played a crucial role in the United Nations General Assembly’s (UNGA) historic decision to designate 15 March as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia”. “This marked an important milestone in the international community’s efforts to promote harmony, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence among religions, cultures, and civilisations,” he asserted. Dar further noted that Pakistan also played a pivotal role in the adoption of another UNGA resolution aimed at strengthening international efforts to counter Islamophobia, including the request for the appointment of a United Nations special envoy to address this challenge. Dar welcomed the appointment of Miguel Angel Moratinos as the UN special envoy to combat Islamophobia in May 2025, as well as the appointment of the special envoy of the OIC Secretary-General on combating Islamophobia in May 2024, “reflecting the growing international resolve to address this challenge in a coordinated and sustained manner”. “Pakistan remains firmly committed to advancing international efforts to counter Islamophobia,” FM Dar reaffirmed. He said Pakistan was working with the OIC member states and the UN special envoy on the development of a “UN Plan of Action that would provide a structured framework to better understand, prevent, and eliminate this challenge”. “The international community must stand united in condemning Islamophobia while also addressing the structural conditions that allow it to flourish,” the deputy premier stressed. “Pakistan calls upon all nations to undertake sustained efforts to promote mutual respect, dialogue, and understanding among communities, and to uphold the values of tolerance, dignity, and peaceful coexistence.”
DawnMarch 15, 2026 at 08:28 AM UTC