The United Nations General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution on Islamophobia, on Friday, coinciding with the International Day to Combat Islamophobia.
The newly-approved “Measures to Combat Islamophobia” proposal received 115 votes in favor, and 44 abstentions. None was against it.
The International Day to Combat Islamophobia, designated by the UN in 2022, takes place on March 15 every year in 140 countries worldwide. It coincides with the anniversary of the 2019 Christchurch Mosque shootings, in which 51 people were killed and dozens were injured during a Friday prayer in New Zealand.
Pakistan led the resolution, showing solidarity among Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states in fighting the intolerance Islam is facing on a global scale.
The UN stated in a press release: “The Assembly condemned the incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence against Muslims as manifested in the increasing number of incidents of desecration of their holy book; attacks on mosques, sites, and shrines; and other acts of religious intolerance, negative stereotyping, hatred and violence.”
The resolution urged Member States to enact legislation and policies to combat hatred and violence, including laws that prohibit incitement to violence based on religion or belief. In addition, it requested the appointment of a United Nations Special Envoy to combat Islamophobia.
The resolution also called for the appointment of a U.N. special envoy to combat Islamophobia, and requested the U.N. secretary-general to submit a report on the implementation of measures and efforts to combat Islamophobia at the General Assembly.
In July of last year, the UN passed a resolution condemning Quran burning, describing attacks on the Muslim holy book as “religious hatred.”