ISLAMABAD – In a landmark development, the Organisation of Islamic Council(OIC) unanimously adopted a Pakistan-sponsored resolution regardingIslamophobia on Saturday.
Tabled during the 47th Session of the OIC CFM (Council of ForeignMinisters) in Niamey, Niger, the resolution was drafted in the context ofrising incidents of Islamophobia in many parts of the world.
The resolution expresses concern that Islamophobia, as a contemporary formof racism and religious discrimination, was on the rise.
It also expresses deep concern at the recent incidents of desecration ofthe Holy Quran and reprinting of caricatures of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H.)which hurt sentiments of more than 1.8 billion Muslims around the world.
The resolution decides to designate 15 March as the “International Day toCombat Islamophobia” each year.
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It authorizes the OIC Permanent Missions in New York to jointly table aResolution in the UN General Assembly, calling for establishment of thisday.
It also urges OIC Member States to organize and support varioushigh-visibility events aimed at effectively increasing awareness at alllevels about curbing Islamophobia and anti-Muslim hatred, and calls on theUN Secretary General to initiate a global dialogue on countering risingIslamophobia and promoting interfaith harmony.
Prime Minister Imran Khan, in his address to the 75th Session of UNGA inSeptember 2020, highlighted recent incidents of Islamophobia and unlawfulprovocation. The Prime Minister subsequently reached out to leaders of OICMember States through two letters written on 28 October and 18 November2020.
