At UN, Pakistan demands global action to defeat ‘virulent’ Islamophobia

UNITED NATIONS, Sep 18 (APP):Highlighting Islamophobia as one of the “most virulent forms of hate speech”, Pakistan called for defeating the flawed mindset which incites violence and discrimination against fellow humans.

“As a firm defender of human dignity, equality and freedom, Pakistan shall continue its engagement with the member states and UN to continue our fight against hate speech-for posterity, our cherished values and for our civilization,” Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, told a global conference on promoting interreligious and cultural dialogue held at UN Headquarters in New York on Thursday.

Hate speech, he said,  is an assault against shared humanity- it disrupts social fabric, militates against human dignity, and dehumanizes the entire groups.

“Digital revolution has accentuated threats posed by this menace: online platforms amplify hatred, peddle disinformation, and provoke violence against fellow humans, particularly vulnerable communities.”

Organized by Morocco, the United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect (UNOSAPG) and the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), the conference brought together member states, United Nations entities, international organizations, political figures, religious leaders, faith-based organizations, media, civil society representatives and other relevant stakeholders.

Opening the conference, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for concerted action by governments, technology companies and civil society to stamp out hate speech, emphasizing that “its toxic message is spreading fast and striking deep”.

“In its worst forms, hate speech incites violence, drives conflict, and contributes to the perpetration of atrocity crimes – including genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and ethnic cleansing,”  the UN chief said.

In his remarks, Ambassador Asim Ahmad voiced concern that hate speech was continuing to run amok in the world, having proliferated into mainstream discourse, with identity weaponized, vulnerable communities marginalized, and hate crimes mainstreamed.

Islamophobia was evident in attacks on Muslims’ lives, identity and symbols; desecration of mosques; and curbs on religious freedoms, the Pakistani envoy said. At some places, he said,  Islamophobia has forged a symbiotic relation with local power structures and vested interests, turning it into a profitable industry.

Pakistan, he said, called for fully implementing relevant UN General Assembly resolutions, UN Strategy and Plan of Action on Hate Speech, and for fostering a genuine spirit of interreligious and intercultural dialogue.  “It is the only panacea to defeat the flawed mindset which incites violence and discrimination against fellow humans.”