The sudden rise in senseless and provocative incidents of Islamophobia, being committed under the grab of so-called freedom of expression, across the globe is a matter of serious concern. The back-to-back incident of desecration of our Holy book Quran during the current month has created a sense of severe anger and unrest among the world Muslims, whose population is more than 1.5 billion. As a matter of fact, every action has a reaction and these despicable acts of Islamophobia can result in serious reaction from the Muslims if notice was not taken of the deplorable acts by the world community at large.

The latest example of such despicable, offensive and provocative act is the desecration of the Holy Quran in the Netherlands last week. Earlier on Jan 21, a similar senseless act took place in Sweden when a Swedish politician burned a copy of the holy Quran in Stockholm, insulting and badly hurting the sentiments of the Muslims worldwide.

There is no denying that those Muslims, who are in minority in many countries, have been passing through tough times in the post 9/11 situation where they face discrimination, hatred, bullying and deprivations in almost fields of life.

They are being victimized for the sins of handful fanatics, who were involved in the terrorists’ activities.

It ought to be mentioned here that fanatics and terrorists are found everywhere in all societies but to equate them with the entire community and making the entire community  to pay for the sins of the few fanatics is not justified and is totally inhuman.

Though Islamophobia has long been a worldwide issue but the recent incidents of the desecration of the holy Quran are particularly alarming.

In this connection, the OIC statement at UN in June last is highly commendable. The OIC statement which was read by Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Munir Akram on OIC’s behalf at international platform in June last year represents the true sentiments of the Muslims.

It may be recalled here that last year in June, the world community observed June 18 and commemorated it as the first ever World day for combating and countering hate speech in pursuance of a grand and commendable resolution passed by the UN General Assembly.

And joining the World community efforts against Hate Speech, Pakistan Permanent Representative to the UN, Mr Munir Akram had rightly highlighted this grave issue saying that the OIC “remains concerned about willful provocations and defamation of Islamic holy personalities and religious symbols.”

In this high commendable statement, the OIC states demanded that all “willful provocations and incitement to hate and violence must be universally outlawed.”

On the other hand, it is also welcome that the US lawmakers have also started realizing the consequence of the will campaign against Muslims and their extreme human rights violations. In this connection, the US Congresswoman Ilham Omar also made good efforts last year. She has not only been criticizing the highhandedness against Muslims in India, but last year also introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives for demanding a ‘concerning’ label for India.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan government has also been accelerating its efforts to highlight and condemn the acts of Islamophobia in India and elsewhere at international platforms.

In fact, India has also been indulged in acts of Islamophobia.

Whether it is the Kashmiris in occupied valley or the Muslims in Assam or elsewhere in India, Muslim population is being targeted and subjected to extreme religious hatred, discrimination and violence.

Recently, their businesses were targeted in the name of Halal business when the Hindu fanatics led by the Modi regime men boycotted the halal meat business to commit the economic murder of Muslims and render them helpless economically.

In Haryana state, Muslims worshippers were even stopped from offering their prayers in the open which is violation of their rights as the Indian Constitution guarantees them right to exercise their religion.

Even girls are not spared and they are heckled for wearing Hijab as is clear from the case of Muslim girl Muskan who was openly heckled and harassed by the BJP fanatics for hearing hijab in educational institution in Karnataka where the local authorities put a total ban on hijab in schools and colleges.

It may be mentioned here that the Karnataka population is mainly Hindus but Muslims form a big section almost 13 per cent of the whole Karnataka population and such highhandedness means provocation of such a big section of the population,

That Muslims are the target of abuse in India has also been acknowledged by the international HR organizations. The US State Department Report has also mentioned about Muslim population of India being victimized and subjected to abuse and discrimination. Even forcible displacement and lynching cases is a common scene in India.

In this backdrop, it is high time, the world should collectively devise strategy to stop these practices as their anti-Islam acts  are increasing with each day and can result in extreme communal riots in the region.

One would urge the world community to be mindful of the sentiments and feelings of the Muslims worldwide and ensure steps to stop the senseless acts of Islamophobia.

Though the Muslim world has been condemning the vile attacks on holy Quran in Netherland and Sweden and other acts of Islamophobia, hurting the sentiments of the Muslims, but the world community must come forward and ensure collective steps to prevent such acts.

To conclude, it is the responsibility of the entire international community and the also the UN to prevent such acts, which are being committed with the ulterior motive with a view to provoking and insulting the religious sentiments of Muslims.

Published in The Daily National Courier, January, 31 2023

Like Business on Facebook, follow @DailyNCourier on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.