ISLAMABAD:Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi met High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) Miguel Moratinos on the margins of the 48th Session of the OIC’s Council of Foreign Ministers here on Tuesday and exchanged views on matters of mutual interest.
They discussed the work of UNAOC and avenues of collaboration, particularly in the area of strengthening interreligious dialogue, combating Islamophobia and related intolerance and achieving harmony in diverse societies.
The foreign minister underscored that hate speech, discrimination and violence against the Muslims were proliferating in several parts of the world, including Pakistan’s neighbourhood. It was manifested in negative profiling by security agencies, stigmatization, deliberate vandalizing of Islamic symbols and holy sites, killings by cow vigilantes, discriminatory laws and policies, ban on Hijab, attacks on mosques, pronouncements by far-right parties that call for expulsion and even “genocide” of the Muslims, anti-Muslim migrant bias, and attacks on the dignity of Muslim women.
Welcoming the recent unanimous adoption of a resolution by the United Nations General Assembly designating March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, the foreign minister lauded the support extended by the UNAOC and the High Representative to the OIC’s initiative.
The High Representative reiterated the readiness of UNAOC to support efforts towards promoting continued dialogue as well as fostering mutual respect and understanding.
The UNAOC was created in 2005. One of its core objectives has been to advance mutual respect for all cultures, traditions and religious beliefs, and to serve as a platform for bridge-building.