AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Representatives of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Task Force on combating bias against Muslims held talks on Tuesday in New York with the current President of the United Nations General Assembly.
According to news sources, the meeting was held at UN Headquarters and focused primarily on coordination for marking the “International Day to Combat Islamophobia” on March 15.
Annalena Baerbock, President of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly, hosted the OIC core group delegation on Islamophobia. Miguel Ángel Moratinos, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Islamophobia and High Representative for the UN Alliance of Civilizations, also attended the meeting.
Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Pakistan’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, participated on behalf of the OIC group and underlined the importance of the international observance. He recalled that the day was established under General Assembly Resolution 76/254, adopted by consensus among member states.
The Pakistani ambassador noted that the first commemoration of the day was held in 2023 during Pakistan’s presidency of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers and has continued in subsequent years.
Participants exchanged views on ways to organize the upcoming event and on expanding international engagement to address the growing hostility, stereotyping, and discrimination targeting Muslims worldwide.
During the discussions, the International Day to Combat Islamophobia was emphasized as a symbol of global solidarity against hate speech, discrimination, and anti-Muslim actions.
According to Pakistan’s UN mission, the meeting did not result in new decisions or commitments, but reflected the continuation of multilateral efforts to promote tolerance, mutual understanding, and collective action against religious discrimination.
The consultations come as the international community prepares for the annual observance of the day, aimed at raising public awareness and encouraging governments to take practical steps to curb Islamophobia in different societies.
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