By Amjad Qaimkhani
NEW YORK: The Permanent Representatives of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Core Group on Islamophobia convened at the United Nations Headquarters on Thursday to meet with Annalena Baerbock, President of the 80th UN General Assembly, and discuss preparations for the upcoming commemoration of the UN International Day to Combat Islamophobia on 15 March.
The meeting provided a platform for diplomats to exchange perspectives on strategies to address rising incidents of Islamophobia globally and to reinforce international cooperation on this pressing issue. Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, participated actively in the discussions, underlining the importance of the International Day for the OIC member states.
Asim Iftikhar emphasized that the day serves as a vital reminder of the need for global solidarity in countering prejudice, discrimination, and acts of intolerance against Muslim communities worldwide. Ahmad noted that the observance not only highlights the challenges faced by Muslim populations but also reflects the commitment of the international community to uphold human rights, religious freedom, and mutual respect among nations.
During the dialogue, representatives shared updates on initiatives taken by their respective countries to combat Islamophobia and discussed ways to strengthen collaborative efforts at the UN level. They highlighted the role of education, media engagement, and intercultural dialogue in promoting understanding and preventing hate crimes, stressing that systemic measures were required to address both overt and subtle forms of discrimination.
#Islamophobia #OIC #UnitedNations #UNGA #ReligiousFreedom #HumanRights #CombatHate #InterfaithDialogue #PakistanAtUN #GlobalSolidarity #InternationalDayToCombatIslamophobia
