By: Muhammad Shoaib Khan
Hatred against Muslims and Islamophobia is increasing in world and to counter this and create awareness the UN adopted a landmark resolution introduced by Pakistan, on behalf of (OIC), designating 15 March as “International Day to Combat Islamophobia” It marks the day when a gunman entered two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, killing 51 people and injuring 40 others. Several countries appreciated the role of UN for taking global initiative which will help in countering hatred against Muslims in world. Along with calling for the international community to curb Islamophobia, the resolution also condemned bias against followers of other faiths.
The dejected truth is that for millions of people around the world, Islamophobia is not some nebulous concept, but a toxic everyday reality. India called out against the UN move and termed it as biased decision against other religions My question to India is that, is hatred against other religions is generated or their followers are facing the same difficulties as Muslims are facing, the answer is no, when one compare the situation then it will come to know that how anti-Muslim sentiments were floated in past and even now. It is the fact that the Indian ruling party remains strategically quiet when calls for genocide of Muslims are made is a testament to this observation. Scores of Hindutva trolls are usually out and about on Pakistani and other social media sites where they demonize Muslims and perpetuate their victimhood despite being an overwhelming majority in India. It is against this backdrop that the Indian representative brazenly projected his country’s institutionalized prejudice.
Islamophobia can take several forms, which can include insidious attempts to exclude Muslims from jobs, housing and education on the basis of their faith. Or it can take more violent forms, such as state-sanctioned attacks and pogroms targeting the Muslim community. All of these manifestations of hate need to be combated vigorously. Islamophobia was given a fillip during the so-called war on terror when the actions of violent actors, claiming to be fighting for the glory of Islam, resulted in ordinary Muslims having to face the consequences. In the post-9/11 era, the repercussions include profiling on the basis of faith, as well as deadly vigilante attacks on Muslims or those who ‘look’ like Muslims. Today, anti-Islamic prejudice has taken on new forms, especially at the state level. The decision by the Karnataka High Court in India to uphold the hijab ban in educational institutions comes across as one that has been heavily influenced by the desire of the state to ‘otherise’ the Muslim community. Miserably, Indian government wants to dictate what Muslim women can or cannot wear. However, India’s hijab controversy cannot be seen in isolation. It is part and parcel of the anti-Muslim rhetoric that the chauvinist BJP government has been pushing ever since Narendra Modi took power. Discriminatory citizenship laws, lynching of Muslims on suspicions of consuming or transporting beef, and bans on communal prayers are all part of this sinister anti-Muslim action that the BJP has been pushing. It is exactly this type of hatred that the day against Islamophobia seeks to highlight.
Even elsewhere, decisions to ban or limit the sale of halal meat, as in Europe, along with attempts by far-right parties in the West to demonize Muslims, illustrate the need for a concerted effort to combat Islamophobia. Pakistan has done the right thing by bringing this key issue to the global stage.
In a world riven by hatred, efforts are needed to promote tolerance and pluralism. This includes allowing followers of all faiths to practice their beliefs freely, while Muslim states also have a responsibility to protect their minorities from extremists. Unfortunately, populists and rabble rousers always exploit the schisms in society. To counter their designs, states and conscientious citizens must resist this rising tide of hate by actively working towards a more tolerant world.
From, last three years Pakistan tried to highlight the issue of Islamophobia on several international forums. The Prime Minister Imran khan himself talked on the issue during his speeches at UNGA and OIC. Later, during telephonic conversation with Russian President, Pak PM reemphasized that anti-Muslim and Islam sentiments should be countered by international community. After sincere efforts of PM Imran Khan, UN got convinced to combat Islamophobia and thus adopted a resolution and designated 15 March as international day to combat terrorism. I must say that it is an achievement which help in creating awareness regarding positive aspects of Islam.
So, UN’s decision to recognize Islamophobia as an issue must be lauded, especially in the backdrop of global hate crimes and state-sanctioned bias against Muslims. In my opinion, to solve this problem, a combination of legislative change, Government and industry initiatives, Muslim community empowerment, and wider community engagement is required. Campaigns should be started to create awareness on the danger of Islamophobia as well as towards promoting the positive images of Islam. It is necessary to maximize of roles of OIC Offices abroad by giving them assignment to deal with Islamophobia-related issues as well as by giving them more space to informally working with local Muslim communities to address the issue Islamophobia at community level. Lastly, Muslim countries should keep issue of Islamophobia as an international concern and thus remains on the agenda of UN’s Human Rights Council and General Assembly
The writer is political and media analyst who regularly writes on international political issues. Feedback can be given at m.shoaib_khan@live.com
