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Iranian diplomat urges accountability amid rising Islamophobia in West

Tuesday, 25 March 2025 6:51 PM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 25 March 2025 6:51 PM ]

Iran’s ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations office in Geneva Ali Bahraini

Iran’s ambassador to the UN headquarters in Geneva has voiced strong criticism of the escalating prevalence of Islamophobia within Western nations, calling for governmental accountability and greater efforts by international institutions in effectively confronting this growing concern.

Speaking at a ceremony commemorating the International Day to Combat Islamophobia on Tuesday, Ali Bahreini defined Islamophobia as “an irrational and unjustified fear of the presence and expansion of Islam in predominantly non-Muslim societies.”

He said the continued existence of this fear and hostility, compounded by negative stereotypes directed towards Muslims, has increasingly resulted in "discrimination, exclusion from social, political, and civil life, as well as verbal harassment and physical violence against Muslims in host societies."

The Iranian envoy specifically drew attention to the proliferation of hate speech in Western countries, expressing concern over the utilization of modern technologies and media platforms to disseminate Islamophobic sentiments.

Bahreini called upon the international community to persist in its efforts to combat religious discrimination through education, dialogue, and challenging stereotypes on all societal levels.

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He underscored the fundamental responsibility of governments in addressing the issue of Islamophobia.

Achieving this objective necessitates the active participation of individuals and social institutions to cultivate mutual understanding and promote respect for diverse perspectives and beliefs, he added.

Referring to established international human rights instruments, Bahraini reaffirmed the inherent right to freedom of expression and belief.

However, he emphasized that these freedoms must be exercised within the bounds of respect for human dignity and rights.

"Islamophobia, or any action targeting Islamic religious symbols, is not a legitimate form of free speech but rather a manifestation of prejudice with potentially harmful consequences," stated Bahreini.

The session was convened within the framework of UN General Assembly Resolution 76/254, which was adopted in 2022.

The resolution aims to encourage international cooperation in combating Islamophobia and fostering interfaith understanding at national, regional, and global levels.

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