“History is replete with odious acts of discrimination and persecution of minorities that remain a blot on humankind,” said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on the first International Day to Combat Islamophobia.
“On International Day to Combat Islamophobia, let’s resolve to fight the systemic oppression of minorities and protect their rights in line with constitutional values,” he tweeted on Wednesday.
The United Nations is commemorating the first-ever International Day to Combat Islamophobia today, 15 March 2023. The observation follows the unanimous adoption of an Assembly resolution last year that proclaimed 15 March as the International Day, calling for global dialogue that promotes tolerance, peace, and respect for human rights and religious diversity.
United Nations (UN) Secretary General, António Guterres, said that first International Day to Combat Islamophobia is a call for action to stamp out the poison of anti-Muslim hatred.
“Discrimination diminishes us all. We must stand up against it. Today & every day, we must counter the forces of division by reaffirming our common humanity,“ tweeted UN chief.
As the UN Secretary-General stated, the nearly two billion Muslims worldwide – who come from all corners of the planet – “reflect humanity in all its magnificent diversity”. Yet, they often face bigotry and prejudice simply because of their faith.
The growing hate that Muslims face is not an isolated development, UN Secretary-General António Guterres earlier told UN General Assembly.
“It is an inexorable part of the resurgence of ethnonationalism, neo-Nazi white supremacist ideologies, and violence targeting vulnerable populations including Muslims, Jews, some minority Christian communities, and others,” he said.
“Discrimination diminishes us all. And it is incumbent on all of us to stand up against it. We must never be bystanders to bigotry.”
Stressing that “we must strengthen our defenses”, Guterres highlighted UN measures such as a Plan of Action to Safeguard Religious Sites. He also called for ramping up political, cultural, and economic investments in social cohesion.
