The General Assembly President, Casaba Korosi, also thanked Pakistan and the OIC for drawing global attention to thE important issue.
“Last year’s unanimous adoption of the GA resolution on it speaks volumes about the need for a global dialogue to encourage tolerance and peace,” he said.
Like so many such social ills, the president said, Islamophobia was rooted in xenophobia — the fear of strangers and foreigners.
“We see the reflections of this fear in discriminatory practices, travel bans, hate speech, bullying and the targeting of others – sometimes just for their clothing,” Korosi said, noting the generalized and unjustified worries stoked by bigots and populists, and in the coverage of Muslims in a part of the media as threats to certain ways of life.
“Its harmful effects are amplified on social media, often by extremists who use this negative stereotyping as a tool for recruitment into their ranks.”
On the other hand, he said, there were cases when teachings of the religion were hijacked and usurped for policies unreconcilable with their original, true intentions. “And the extremist actions are often followed by blanket opinions and reactions – without distinction.
“All over the world, there are political movements and parties who want to benefit from spreading the myth that any foreigner or believer of a different faith can only be an enemy with evil intentions.”
The president said Islamophobia was part of a broader resurgence of ethno-nationalism, supremacy, stigma and hate that were targeting religious, national, ethnic and linguistic communities.
“It is on us all to reverse these trends by embracing diversity and safeguarding the rights of minorities,” he said.
“Freedom of religion or belief is guaranteed under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights – this is international law that must not be breached in any country.
“I call on every member state to uphold this fundamental freedom.”
Education was key to learning why social phobias exist, which could change the understanding of one another, as well as being transformative, Korosi said .
“Making Islam understood, instead of keeping it unknown, can be crucial in dealing with the phenomenon of Islamophobia,” the president said.
“Let us struggle against that ignorance, let us show the real nature of Islam or any other religion.
“Social media companies should also do more by removing hate speech from their platforms and curbing the spread of disinformation,” Korosi said, while underscoring the need for involving young people were involved in those efforts.
“Women’s voices should be equally included in discussions around Islamophobia, like the one we are having today.
“Their important role in shaping Muslim communities was well emphasized during the ‘Women in Islam’ event earlier this week.”