Marking the Worldwide Day to Fight Islamophobia, Guterres speaks out in opposition to bigotry, xenophobia and discrimination.
United Nations Secretary-Common Antonio Guterres has expressed concern over “a disturbing rise in anti-Muslim bigotry”, calling on governments to guard non secular freedom and for on-line platforms to curb hate speech.
Guterres made the remarks on Saturday to mark the Worldwide Day to Fight Islamophobia marked yearly on March 15.
Rights teams around the globe and the UN have famous an increase in Islamophobia, anti-Arab bias and anti-Semitism for the reason that begin of Israel’s 17-month battle on Gaza.
“We’re witnessing a disturbing rise in anti-Muslim bigotry. From racial profiling and discriminatory insurance policies that violate human rights and dignity, to outright violence in opposition to people and locations of worship,” the UN chief mentioned in a video put up on X. “That is a part of a wider scourge of intolerance, extremist ideologies and assaults in opposition to non secular teams and weak populations.”
He known as on governments, with out specifying anyone nation, to “foster social cohesion and shield non secular freedom”.
“On-line platforms should curb hate speech and harassment. And we should all converse out in opposition to bigotry, xenophobia and discrimination,” he added.
We’re witnessing a disturbing rise in anti-Muslim bigotry that’s a part of a wider scourge of intolerance & assaults in opposition to non secular teams & weak populations.
This Worldwide Day to Fight Islamophobia, let’s work collectively to uphold equality, human rights & dignity. pic.twitter.com/QIO1TeWME5
— António Guterres (@antonioguterres) March 15, 2025
In the meantime, UN Beneath-Secretary-Common Miguel Angel Moratinos mentioned Muslims had been dealing with “institutional discrimination and socioeconomic restrictions”.
“Such biases are manifested within the stigmatisation and the unwarranted racial profiling of Muslims and are bolstered by biased media representations, and by the anti-Muslim rhetoric and insurance policies of some political leaders,” he mentioned in a speech to the UN Common Meeting.
Rights advocates have for years raised issues in regards to the stigma confronted by Muslims and Arabs due to how some folks conflate these communities with armed teams.
At current, many pro-Palestinian activists, together with in Western nations resembling the US, have complained and say that their advocacy for Palestinian rights is wrongly labelled by their critics as help for Hamas in Gaza.
In current weeks, rights watchdogs have printed information noting document ranges of anti-Muslim hate incidents and hate speeches in international locations resembling the UK, the US and India, amongst others.
A report launched by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) on Tuesday mentioned that the 8,658 complaints relating to anti-Muslim and anti-Arab incidents final 12 months – representing a 7.4 p.c rise 12 months on 12 months – was the best quantity for the reason that group started compiling information in 1996.
