It has become increasingly clear to the international community that confronting religious hatred cannot be limited to anti-Semitism alone. Rather, it must address all forms of religious discrimination, particularly the growing hostility toward Islam and Muslims.
According to 2023 data from the Pew Research Centre, Muslims face restrictions on practising their faith in 56 countries, reflecting the widespread challenges to freedom of religion and belief.
Similarly, the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights reports that over 40 percent of Muslims in Europe experience various forms of discrimination, whether in employment, education, or access to public services.
These findings underscore the reality that Islamophobia has evolved into a systematic phenomenon requiring an urgent and effective international response.
On the occasion of the International Day to Combat Islamophobia on 15 March 2024, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned of the alarming rise in anti-Muslim hatred globally in a powerful statement.
He stressed that this hostility manifests in institutional discrimination, as well as social and economic exclusion, and is reinforced by discriminatory policies in migration, citizenship, education, and employment.
He also highlighted how online hate speech often translates into real-world violence, urging efforts to strengthen social cohesion and build just, inclusive societies.
Later in the same month, the UN General Assembly adopted a landmark resolution titled “Measures to Combat Islamophobia.”
This resolution, pioneered by Egyptian diplomacy, was passed without opposition: 115 countries voted in favour, 44 abstained, and none objected.
The resolution unequivocally condemned all forms of hatred and discrimination against Muslims and called on states to adopt legal and educational measures to counter intolerance toward Islam.
It also recommended appointing a UN special envoy to combat Islamophobia.
In May 2025, Miguel Moratinos, the high representative for the UN Alliance of Civilizations and former Spanish foreign minister, was appointed the special envoy of the UN secretary-general to combat Islamophobia.
In his inaugural remarks, he acknowledged that Muslims face both institutional discrimination and socio-economic barriers.
He also noted that negative stereotypes propagated by some media outlets and politicians contribute significantly to the escalation of anti-Islam sentiment.
Moratinos emphasized the need for a serious and practical response to the issue, stressing that his appointment should not be seen as merely symbolic but rather as the launch of a robust international effort.
Such an initiative should include developing an international definition of Islamophobia akin to that of anti-Semitism, compiling regular reports that objectively document global trends, building alliances with regional organizations to integrate anti-Islamophobia policies, enhancing awareness through education and media, empowering Muslim organizations to engage fully in public life, and combating hate speech, especially when it originates from official figures.
In the United States, the Biden-Harris administration launched the first-ever National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia and Hate Against Arabs and Muslims.
This strategy includes over 100 executive actions and calls for cross-sector collaboration.
It aims to raise awareness of rising threats, ensure the safety of Muslim communities, address systemic discrimination, and promote solidarity among diverse religious and ethnic groups.
Future US administrations should also continue to uphold and build upon this strategic framework.
Meanwhile, in Europe, the rise of far-right movements poses a serious threat. Many of these groups openly espouse anti-Muslim and anti-Islam rhetoric.
This necessitates a firm response from all relevant bodies, including civil society, to uphold the principles of equality and anti-discrimination in public policy.
Historically, anti-Semitism was the first form of religious hatred to gain wide international recognition, especially after World War II.
27 January was designated as International Holocaust Remembrance Day, and the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance adopted a comprehensive definition of anti-Semitism.
The European Union also launched a long-term strategy (2012–2030) to combat anti-Semitism through concrete legal and educational actions.
However, with the increasing number of attacks on mosques and repeated incidents of Quran desecration, including public burnings, it is evident that focusing exclusively on anti-Semitism is no longer sufficient.
There is an urgent need for the European Union to adopt a dedicated strategy to combat Islamophobia, just as it has done in criminalizing anti-Semitism.
In this context, the Document on Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together, signed in 2019 by Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Sheikh Ahmed El-Tayyeb and Pope Francis in Abu Dhabi, holds special significance.
This historic document aims to solidify principles of peace and interfaith coexistence. It affirms the dignity of every human being, regardless of religion, ethnicity, or colour, as the foundation of global peace.
It also advocates for a world rooted in tolerance and mutual respect, where individuals can freely practice their faith without fear.
The document also rejects the misuse of religion as a justification for violence, extremism, or terrorism and calls on religious and political leaders — and societies at large — to promote dialogue, understanding, and the rejection of all forms of intolerance.
It asserts that all people are united in their shared humanity and bear a joint responsibility for building a peaceful and respectful future.
The message of the document is reinforced by several international legal instruments, including the 1965 International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination and the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
These affirm that religious defamation may constitute incitement to hatred if it leads to violence, exclusion, or discrimination.
Additionally, the 1990 Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam affirms that defamation of religion should not be permitted under the pretext of free speech.
While anti-Semitism helped spark global awareness of the dangers of religious hatred, Islamophobia today serves as a stark reminder that the threat persists, albeit in new forms targeting different communities.
Publicly burning the Quran, excluding Muslims from civic discourse, or questioning their national loyalty all contribute to division and extremism. These actions must be condemned and confronted as firmly as anti-Semitism.
Justice demands that Muslims be afforded the same protections granted to other religious communities.
Islamophobia must be recognized as a hate crime, not merely an expression of free speech.
Safeguarding the sanctity of religious beliefs and symbols is essential. The fight against religious hatred cannot be selective.
The United Nations’ goals of peace and justice can only be realized through a comprehensive approach that addresses all forms of discrimination and racism and fosters a culture of peace rooted in diversity and the protection of human rights.
From confronting antisemitism to combating Islamophobia, the journey continues toward a world free of hatred — one that truly upholds the values of peaceful coexistence and cultural diversity, without discrimination or exclusion.
*The writer is a senator and a former assistant to the minister of foreign affairs.
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