Pakistan welcomes appointment of UN special envoy to combat Islamophobia
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday welcomed the appointment of former Spanish foreign minister Miguel Ángel Moratinos as the UN's special envoy to combat Islamophobia.
The new envoy was announced on Wednesday, with Moratinos reaffirming his 'commitment to stand in solidarity with Muslim communities and to stand up against all forms of discrimination and bigotry.'
In 2022, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution sponsored by 60 Member-States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which designated Mar. 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia.
The date was chosen as the anniversary of mass shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand, in which 51 people were killed during Friday prayers in 2019.
'Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad described the appointment of a special envoy as a major milestone in the OIC's efforts to combat Islamophobia and promote tolerance, respect and peaceful coexistence,' a statement from the office of Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN said on Thursday.
'Together, we stand against faith-based hatred and discrimination,' the statement said, quoting Ahmad.
Moratinos has previously served as Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations.
The mandate of the Office of the Special Envoy on Combating Islamophobia includes monitoring, reporting and advising on rising Islamophobic trends globally and supporting the UN's broader efforts against religious intolerance.
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