Pak envoy calls on world to combat 'Islamophobia' at UN

Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Maleeha Lodhi has said that Islamophobic acts were unfortunately taking place in countries known as traditional champions of human rights and humanitarianism. She was participating in an event organised at the United Nations by the Pakistan mission and the OIC on 'Countering Xenophobia through Interfaith Cooperation'.

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Decrying the rise of Islamophobia worldwide, Pakistan called for action to combat the forces of xenophobia and warned that if timely steps were not taken to check this disturbing trend, it could threaten regional and global peace and security.

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Ambassador Lodhi said the purpose of the event during a week at the UN was devoted to interfaith harmony and to highlight the concern of Pakistan and OIC countries over certain recent developments which were posing a danger to social cohesion and to the observance of human rights.

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The Dawn reported that Islam has been called by unspeakable names and minarets have been portrayed as missiles, she added.

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Lodhi quoted President Obama who acknowledged during his visit to a mosque earlier this week that 'an attack on one faith is an attack on all our faiths'.

She further said that 'if any religious group is targeted, we all have a responsibility to speak up.'

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Lodhi also highlighted the plight of refugees and migrants pouring into Europe.