Hatred against Muslims 'major threat to democracy’: Türkiye's UN envoy

Turkish envoy Sedat Onal urges the UN General Assembly to face collectively in opposition to anti-Muslim discourse and actions and name out “any injustice we witness” and defend democracy and human rights.

“Islamophobia has now become a major threat to democracy as it feeds racist and xenophobic tendencies,” says Onal.
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The Turkish Ambassador to the UN has stated that hatred in opposition to Muslims has develop into a “major threat to democracy” and desecration of the copies holy Quran and mosques is “on the rise.”

Addressing a particular occasion to commemorate International Day to Combat Islamophobia, organised by Pakistan and the UN General Assembly on Friday, Sedat Onal stated “Islamophobia is a real and a rising threat.”

Noting that Muslims more and more face “systemic practices of denial of freedom of religion, hate crimes and various manifestations of Islamophobia,” he stated:

“It goes hand-in-hand with the rising tide of populism and polarisation that tend to dominate political discourse in many countries.”

“Islamophobia has now become a major threat to democracy as it feeds racist and xenophobic tendencies,” stated Onal.

“As a outcome, desecration of the holy Quran and mosques, in addition to violations of freedom of manifestation of faith are on the rise,” he stated.

READ MORE: Anti-Muslim racism institutionalised in Europe, report warns

‘Despicable assaults’ in Europe

Noting the current “despicable attacks” perpetrated by “anti-Islam instigators in Europe against the Holy Quran,” he stated the acts are “blatant displays of hatred, intolerance, xenophobia and discrimination.”

“Allowing these abhorrent acts can never be justified under the pretext of freedom of expression,” stated the Turkish ambassador stated.

He urged the UN General Assembly to face collectively in opposition to Islamophobic discourse and actions and name out “any injustice we witness” and defend democracy and human rights.

Among the opposite steps that must be taken “collectively” are selling Islamic civil values, combating radicalism and condemning intolerance, incitement and harassment primarily based on ethnic origin or non secular perception, based on Onal.

“We can make a difference if we can achieve unity and solidarity in both word and deed,” he stated.

READ MORE: Experts: Islamophobia in West fuels hatred in opposition to Muslims in different areas