• Source:JND
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United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres raised concerns over a "disturbing rise in anti-Muslim bigotry" worldwide, calling for urgent action to curb hate speech and discrimination. His remarks, delivered in a video message on Friday, came ahead of the International Day to Combat Islamophobia.

Antonio Guterres highlighted racial profiling, discriminatory policies and violent attacks on individuals and places of worship as key concerns. While he did not name specific countries, his statement follows global reports of rising Islamophobia, anti-Arab bias and antisemitism, particularly since Israel's military assault on Gaza after Hamas' attack on October 7, 2023.

The UN chief urged online platforms to take stronger measures against hate speech and harassment, highlighting the need for collective action. "We must all speak out against bigotry, xenophobia and discrimination," he said.

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Human rights groups have long warned that Muslims and Arabs face stigmatisation due to associations made with extremist groups. Recently, pro-Palestinian activists in Western countries, including the United States, have reported being unfairly accused of supporting Hamas for advocating Palestinian rights.

Human rights organisations have also documented record levels of anti-Muslim hate crimes in several nations, including the UK, US and India. While these governments have pledged to combat all forms of discrimination, concerns persist over the effectiveness of their efforts.

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International Day To Combat Islamophobia

The UN General Assembly established March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia in 2022, following the Christchurch mosque shootings in New Zealand in 2019 that killed over 50 people. The resolution, introduced by Pakistan and co-sponsored by China, received 115 votes in favour, with 44 countries abstaining, including India, France, Germany and the UK.

UN chief Antonio Guterres called for unity against discrimination, stating, "Let us work together to uphold equality, human rights and dignity, and build inclusive societies where everyone, regardless of their faith, can live in peace and harmony."