On the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres addressed the alarming increase in anti-Muslim bigotry, urging governments and online platforms to take action to protect religious freedom and reduce hate speech. This rise in intolerance is part of a broader trend of extreme ideologies and assaults against religious communities and vulnerable populations.

Guterres highlighted the need for social cohesion, religious freedom, and for everyone to speak out against bigotry, xenophobia, and discrimination. The UN Under-Secretary-General, Miguel Angel Moratinos, emphasized that Muslims face institutional and socioeconomic prejudices, exacerbated by negative media portrayals and the rhetoric of some political figures.

Rights advocates have long pointed out that Muslims and Arabs are often unfairly associated with terrorism, and that support for Palestinian rights is often mistakenly seen as support for Hamas. Recent data from organizations such as the Council on American-Islamic Relations reflects a record increase in anti-Muslim incidents and speech in various countries, including the UK, the USA, and India. The CAIR report found a 7.4% increase in anti-Muslim and anti-Arab incidents in the United States last year, the highest figure since the group began tracking such incidents in 1996.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/15/un-chief-warns-of-global-rise-in-anti-muslim-bigotry?traffic_source=rss