New York (UNA) – The United Nations General Assembly hosted, at its headquarters in New York, today, His Excellency Sheikh Dr. Muhammad bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa, Secretary-General of the Muslim World League and Chairman of the Muslim Scholars Association, as a keynote speaker to mark the International Day to Combat Islamophobia.
As part of his hosting by the Association, His Eminence Dr. Al-Issa held bilateral discussions with the President of the United Nations General Assembly, Mr. Philomon Yang, addressing what has become known as “Islamophobia” and a number of issues of mutual interest.
The invitation of the Secretary-General of the Muslim World League to attend and deliver the speech of the Muslim peoples "in person" at the United Nations headquarters reflects the League's international standing and the respect it enjoys among the world's leading organizations. The invitation also comes as a recognition of the League's influence in combating "Islamophobia" and hate speech in general, and of its efforts and broad international alliances in this regard.
In his keynote address at the United Nations' celebration of the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, Dr. Al-Issa emphasized that Islamophobia is at the forefront of worrying examples of the rise of hate speech and its dangerous practices. He emphasized that it not only harms Muslims, but also promotes extremism and divisions within societies with religious diversity. He also emphasized that, according to the concepts of hatred, it is at the forefront of threats to achieving comprehensive citizenship, as stipulated in civilized constitutions, international laws, principles, and norms. He pointed out the harms and crimes it has caused against Muslims, which continue to be practiced today with alarming escalation, according to reliable statistics. He also highlighted a number of cases of marginalization of some Muslim communities, obstruction of their integration, or prevention of their access to their human rights.
His Excellency spoke at length about the reasons behind the emergence of Islamophobia. He also emphasized that Muslims, who number nearly two billion today, represent the true image of Islam, and that they interact positively with the world around them, with its religious, ethnic, and cultural diversity, based on the call of Islam for human understanding, as in the Holy Quran, where God Almighty says: “O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another.”
He emphasized that Islamophobia is not just a religious issue, but a humanitarian issue that threatens coexistence and global societal peace, adding, "When we speak from this international platform, we are not only defending Islam, but also defending humanitarian principles."
“Therefore, we say: ‘No’ to making followers of religions the target of hatred, racism, segregation and exclusion, ‘No’ to election slogans that incite hatred, ‘No’ to those who sow fear to reap votes, ‘No’ to policies that build their future on fear and division, ‘No’ to media that fuels racism, ‘No’ to platforms that promote discord, ‘No’ to lies that distort facts, ‘No’ to linking terrorism to a religion embraced by nearly two billion people, ‘No’ to extremists who hijack religion, and ‘No’ to terrorism that distorts the truth of religion, and conversely, ‘No’ to those who refuse to see the truth,” Sheikh Al-Issa added.
He continued: “We also say: ‘No’ to fearing others simply because they differ from us in their religion or race. Someone who agrees with you in religion or race may pose risks to their religious or ethnic community that exceed your illusions about others.”
His Eminence held the international community responsible for building a world of tolerance and love, while emphasizing that its educational and cultural institutions have a vital and tangible role to play in promoting awareness, both now and in the future, especially among children and young people.
Delegations of UN member states then delivered speeches, speaking on behalf of their governmental institutions' efforts to combat Islamophobia.
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