In news– The UN General Assembly adopted a Pakistan-sponsored resolution to declare March 15 as International Day to Combat Islamophobia(IDCI) recently.
About the day-
- The resolution on IDCI was introduced by Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
- It was backed by 57 members of OIC and eight other countries, including China and Russia.
- It marks the day when a gunman entered two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, killing 51 people and injuring 40 others.
- It emphasises the right to freedom of religion and belief and recalls a 1981 resolution calling for the elimination of all forms of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief.
- Islamophobia is the fear of, hatred of, or prejudice against the religion of Islam or Muslims in general, especially when seen as a geopolitical force or a source of terrorism.
India’s opposition to it-
- Asserting that religious phobias are not restricted to any single religion, India urged the United Nations to acknowledge the prevalence of “religiophobia,” rather than single out a single faith.
- India’s Permanent Representative TS Tirumurti argued that instances of discrimination, intolerance and violence was directed against members of many religious communities in various parts of the world, and not just against those who followed Abrahamic faiths.
- He cited the examples of the destruction of Bamiyan Buddha, attacks on temples and gurudwaras, massacre of Sikh pilgrims in gurudwara, and glorification of breaking of idols in temples etc.
Further reading: https://journalsofindia.com/organisation-of-islamic-cooperation-oic/
Source: Hindustan Times
