OIC to UN Declare March 15 as day against Islamophobia

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has called on the United Nations and other international and regional bodies to declare March 15 as international day of solidarity against Islamophobia.

The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported OIC Secretary General Dr. Yousef Bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen issued the call on Saturday to enhance global awareness of the danger of Islamophobia,

He stressed an immediate halt to intolerance against Muslims, urging the international community to take practical measures to address this phenomenon and promote tolerance, understanding and peaceful coexistence.

Al-Othaimeen was speaking on the first anniversary of the terrorist attack, which targeted two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, and killed a large number of innocent worshipers. He expressed OIC sympathy and solidarity with the families of the victims.

The OIC chief reaffirmed the organisation's appreciation of the firm stance taken by the New Zealand government and people against terrorism, appreciating the position of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in her care of Muslims in the difficult circumstances.

He affirmed that the heinous terrorist act had sent a strong message that hate speech, intolerance and Islamophobia posed a serious threat to all societies and that terrorism had no religion, race or nationality.

Meanwhile, the Saudi permanent representative to the UN told a meeting of OUC ambassadors the use of terms linking terror to religion, such as Daesh (so-called IS), should be avoided.

As chairman of the group to combat terrorism on behalf of the OIC, Al-Mouallimi said there should be no discrimination between terrorist outfits from all religions and sects, and called for extremism and terrorism to be condemned. The meeting was chaired by the UAE at the UN headquarters.

pk/mud