UNITED NATIONS: The UN General Assembly approved a resolution on Tuesday setting March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia. The resolution was introduced by Pakistan.

The resolution, adopted with consensus by the 193-member world body and co-sponsored by 55 mainly Muslim countries, emphasises the right to freedom of religion and belief and recalls a 1981 resolution calling for the elimination of all forms of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief.

It expresses deep concern at the overall rise in instances of discrimination, intolerance and violence, regardless of the actors, directed against members of many religions and other communities in various parts of the world, including cases motivated by Islamophobia, antisemitism, Christianophobia and prejudices against persons of other religions or beliefs.

The resolution asks all countries, UN bodies, international and regional organisations, civil society, private sector and faith-based organisations to organise and support high-visibility events aimed at effectively increasing awareness of all levels about curbing Islamophobia and to observe the new International Day to Combat Islamophobia.

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2022