UN adopts resolution against acts of violence based on religion, belief

NEW YORK (92 News) – The UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution strongly condemning continuing violence and acts of terrorism targeting individuals belonging to religious minorities, based on or in the name of religion or belief. The resolution presented by Turkey with Pakistan's support in wake of Christchurch terror attacks was adopted without a vote. Speaking on the occasion, Pakistan's Permanent Representative Maleeha Lodhi said that increasing anti-Islam sentiments are threatening world peace. “Pakistan always supported all efforts to bring the nations and religions closer.” She said that Islamophobia and racism go hand in hand. “We cannot allow anyone to target individuals of a religion, race and colour with hatred and extremism,” she maintained. Maleeha Lodhi said that extremist and racist thought promoted in the West is a hurdle in the way of international brotherhood. “We should construct the bridges of peace-loving instead of erecting walls,” she said. Ambassador Lodhi, noting that nine victims of the Christchurch attack hailed from Pakistan, said that profiling and stigmatizing people from one country leads to drastic consequences. Earlier, introducing the resolution, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavusoglu said the international community must stand up against the spiral of hate.

Growing Islamophobia can be acutely consequential: Maleeha

Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations Dr Maleeha Lodhi has said that the deadly terrorist attack on two mosques in New Zealand was another grim reminder of the Islamophobia sweeping the world. Addressing delegates attending the UN Commission on Status of Women, she linked the attack to stereotyping, which she argued can be seriously consequential as it can lead to misperceptions, demonization and even violence. The Pakistani envoy said it is a slippery slope when Muslims are stereotyped and mischaracterized, sometimes deliberately by those who engage in hate speech. It is pertinent to mention here that the death toll in Friday’s terror attack has jumped to 50 and it was the worst ever peacetime mass killing in New Zealand and the country had raised its security threat level to the highest.