PM felicitates Muslim world as UN designates March 15 as anti-Islamophobia Day

ISLAMABAD, Mar 15 (APP):Prime Minister Imran Khan Tuesday congratulated the Muslim world as the United Nations adopted a “landmark resolution” introduced by Pakistan, designating March 15 as International Day to Combat Islamophobia.

Following the adoption of the “landmark” resolution by the United Nations General Assembly introduced by Pakistan on behalf of the OIC countries, the prime minister said,“Our voice against the rising tide of Islamophobia has been heard.”

The resolution was sponsored by 57 members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and eight other countries, including China and Russia.

Under its terms, the resolution strongly deplores all acts of violence against persons on the basis of their religion or belief and such acts directed against their places of worship, as well as all attacks on and in religious places, sites and shrines that are in violation of international law.

The prime minister has been regularly speaking up against the rising Islamophobia in his addresses at different forums or through letters to the Muslim world.

“The UN has finally recognised the grave challenge confronting the world: of Islamophobia, respect for religious symbols & practices & of curtailing systematic hate speech & discrimination against Muslims,” the prime minister remarked on Twitter.

“Next challenge is to ensure implementation of this landmark resolution,” he resolved.

At the world platforms, including the United Nations General Assembly, Prime Minister Imran Khan has been calling the world to act against Islamophobia and asking the world leaders “to act collectively to counter the growing phenomenon in non-Muslim states”.

In the recent past, the prime minister welcomed Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s plan to appoint a special representative to combat Islamophobia, which he termed a “contemporary scourge”.

Imran Khan also recently appreciated Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “emphatic statement” that the freedom of speech could not be a pretext to abuse Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).