March 15 Marks 1st Int'l Day against Islamophobia

One hundred and forty countries worldwide will hold several activities on March 15 to celebrate the International Day against Islamophobia, which condemns discrimination based on religion or belief.

Last year, the UN declared March 15 as the International Day against Islamophobia. This date was chosen as it is the anniversary of the Christchurch mosque shootings, in which 51 people were killed.

Known also as 'anti-Muslim hatred', this concept emphasises the link between institutional levels of Islamophobia and manifestations of such attitudes, triggered by the visibility of the victim’s perceived Muslim identity.

The President of the UN General Assembly, Csaba Kőrösi, noted that Islamophobia is rooted in xenophobia, or the fear of strangers, which is reflected in discriminatory practices, travel bans, hate speech, bullying and targeting of other people, according to a statement recently released by UN.

He urged countries to uphold freedom of religion or belief, which is guaranteed under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

“All of us carry a responsibility to challenge Islamophobia or any similar phenomenon, to call out injustice and condemn discrimination based on religion or belief – or the lack of them,” he added.

Mr. Kőrösi said education is key to learning why these phobias exist, and it can be “transformative” in changing how people understand each another.

The growing hate that Muslims face is not an isolated development, UN Secretary-General António Guterres told attendees.

“It is an inexorable part of the resurgence of ethnonationalism, neo-Nazi white supremacist ideologies, and violence targeting vulnerable populations including Muslims, Jews, some minority Christian communities and others,” he said.

“Discrimination diminishes us all. And it is incumbent on all of us to stand up against it. We must never be bystanders to bigotry.”

Stressing that “we must strengthen our defences”, Mr. Guterres highlighted UN measures such as a Plan of Action to Safeguard Religious Sites. He also called for ramping up political, cultural, and economic investments in social cohesion.