Islamabad, July 26, 2023 (PPI-OT): The resolution on “Promoting interreligious and intercultural dialogue and tolerance in countering hate speech” was adopted today by consensus at the United Nations. Pakistan was among the co-sponsors of the resolution. This resolution calls on the international community to counter hate speech on all its forms and dimensions. It also recognizes with deep concern the overall rise in instances of discrimination, intolerance and violence, regardless of the actors, including cases motivated by Islamophobia in PP18, a proposal put forward by Pakistan, later joined by Egypt, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Pakistan also led efforts along with Malaysia and Egypt on behalf of the OIC countries to include language in the text, by the terms of which the Assembly strongly deploring all acts of violence against persons on the basis of their religion or belief, as well as any such acts directed against their religious symbols, holy books, places of worship, religious sites and shrines in violation of international law, making the first resolution adopted by the General Assembly to strongly deplore all acts of violence against religious symbols and Holy books.

Counsellor Pakistan Mission Bilal Chaudhry made statement on behalf of Pakistan on adoption of the resolution. On behalf of Pakistan delegation, Mr Bilal Chaudhry expressed profound satisfaction on the adoption of the resolution. He said that the text adopted today resonates with resolution on religious hatred, adopted recently at the Human Rights Council in Geneva, which was presented by Pakistan on behalf of the OIC group. That landmark resolution in the Human Rights Council condemned “all advocacy and manifestations of religious hatred, including recent public and premeditated acts that have desecrated the Koran” and called for countries to adopt laws enabling them to bring to justice those responsible for such acts.

“Islamophobia is on the rise with repeated incidents of desecration of the Holy Koran. These acts are not just a provocation to the feelings of more than two billion Muslims in the world, but a step to sabotage interfaith harmony and peace”: he added. “Such incidents are also a manifestation of racial hatred and xenophobia, and absence of preventive legal deterrence, inaction, and shying away from speaking out encourages further incitement to hatred and violence”: he concluded Finally, he noted that the text adopted today does not seek to curtail the right to free speech,” but tries to underline the “special duties and responsibilities” of international community to safeguard interfaith peace and harmony.

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