Colonel William A. Phillips

International Day To Combat Islamophobia is an international observance designated by United Nations in 2022,[1][2] taking place on 15 March every year in 140 countries worldwide. The date, March 15, was chosen as it is the anniversary of the Christchurch mosque shootings, in which 51 people were killed during Friday prayer.

Background

Islam is the second largest religion in the world after Christianity, with 1.9 billion followers representing 24.9% of world population.[3] Islamophobia is the unreasonable dislike or fear of, and prejudice against, Muslims or Islam.[4][5]

Throughout history, many incidences of ethnic cleansing of Muslims were reported across the world, most notably the Circassian genocide, the Srebrenica massacre, the Sabra and Shatila massacre, and the ongoing Rohingya, Uyghur, and Palestine genocides.[6] Islamophobia escalated after the September 11 attacks, which caused great distress to Muslims in Europe and the United States.[7]

In 2020, addressing the general debate of Seventy-fifth session of the United Nations General Assembly, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan first time suggested an international day to combat Islamophobia[8]

Official recognition

On 15 March 2022, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution by consensus which was introduced by Munir Akram, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation that proclaimed March 15 as 'International Day to Combat Islamophobia'.[9][10][11]

See also

References

  1. ^ "General Assembly Unanimously Adopts Texts on Combating Islamophobia, Protecting Rangelands, Tackling Difficulties for Widows, Bicycles as Public Transportation". United Nations. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  2. ^ "UN Designated March 15 as International Day To Combat Islamophobia". Dawn.
  3. ^ "Most Practiced Religion". Encyclopædia Britannica.
  4. ^ "What is Islamophobia, By BBC".
  5. ^ "Cambridge Dictionary Islamophobia".
  6. ^ "U.S. cites China, Myanmar, Ethiopia in genocide report". The Hindu. 12 July 2021. Archived from the original on 14 February 2023.
  7. ^ Mineo, Liz (9 September 2021). "Muslim Americans reflect on the impact of 9/11". Harvard Gazette. Archived from the original on 23 January 2024.
  8. ^ "Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan warns of rising Islamophobia". un.news.org. UN News. 25 September 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
  9. ^ "March 15, International Day To Combat Islamophobia". UNGA text on combating Islamophobia.
  10. ^ "UN makes March 15 International Day to Combat Islamophobia". Arab News. 15 March 2022.
  11. ^ "What is Islamophobia, By BBC".

External links


source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Day_to_Combat_Islamophobia