OIC Secretary-General Hussein Taha has said the United Nations has made as a milestone achievement by declaring March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia. The UN General Assembly on Tuesday adopted by consensus the resolution introduced by Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). It marks the day when a gunman entered two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, killing 51 worshippers and wounding 40 others in the terror attack. The secretary-general reiterated the OIC's belief that the designation of such a date as an international day will consolidate global awareness of the threat of hatred and fanaticism against Muslims, while encouraging the international community to take concrete measures to combat the phenomenon and advance tolerance and peaceful coexistence across the world. The secretary-general underlined that incitement to hatred and intolerance on religious grounds can create conditions that pose a threat to global peace, security and stability, thus an antithesis to all freedoms. Therefore, the OIC considered the adoption of the resolution by the United Nations General Assembly as a pivotal step toward concrete global actions needed to combat the menace of incitement to hatred, discrimination and violence based on one's religion. The secretary-general also expressed the readiness of the OIC to cooperate with the United Nations as well as with all members of the international community to promote unity and harmony in order to achieve global peace and understanding. Formally introducing the resolution, Pakistan's UN envoy Munir Akram said anti-Muslim hatred has become a "reality" that is "proliferating in several parts of the world." "Such acts of discrimination, hostility and violence towards Muslims –– individuals and communities –– constitute grave violations of their human rights, and violate their freedom of religion and belief," Akram said in the General Assembly Hall. "It is particularly alarming these days, for it has emerged as a new form of racism characterized by xenophobia, negative profiling and stereotyping of Muslims," he added. Akram said: "The gender aspect of Islamophobia is also gaining prominence, with girls and women being targeted due to mode of their dress and the general notion that Muslim women are oppressed and thus must be liberated." — Agencies
