Dr. Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri, Director General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) warned against growing extremism and hate speech against Muslims and called on international community to proclaim 15 March as international day for combating Islamophobia. He warned in statement published on ISESCO website, following the heinous terrorist attack perpetrated by an Australian terrorist on Friday 15 March opening fire at Muslim worshippers in two mosques in Christchurch, in the South of New Zealand, killing 50 people and seriously injuring more than 50, against the growth of extremism and hate speech in the world against Muslims despite the great efforts exerted over the past three decades in the field of dialogue among cultures and alliance of civilizations. Dr Altwaijri affirmed that Islamophobia has become an international phenomenon with international spinoffs and harmful repercussions on the rights, security and safety of Muslim citizens in countries outside the Islamic world. He added that governments and regional and international organizations are invited to intensify their efforts to fight this serious phenomenon that jeopardizes international peace and security, stating that it totally runs against the principles of the UN charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the relevant international declarations, agreements and conventions, especially Article 20 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). He called for efforts to be intensified to fight this trend and promote the culture of dialogue, understanding, harmony, peaceful coexistence and alliance among the followers of different religions and cultures. He further called upon the international community as a whole to fight this serious phenomenon because it does not only target Muslims and Islam, but also the human values that preach mutual respect and coexistence. ISESCO Director General called on the UN to proclaim 15 March, date of this atrocious massacre, as the international day for combating Islamophobia in all its forms and manifestations.
