A joint Turkish and Pakistani resolution strongly condemning continuing violence and acts of terrorism targeting individuals based on religion or belief was unanimously adopted by the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.
The resolution that was tabled by Turkey and co-sponsored by Pakistan specifically condemns Islamophobia, including the rise of extreme nationalistic and populist ideologies in the West and also in Pakistan’s turf.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu introduced the resolution and said that the international community must “stand up against the spiral of hate.”
He sent condolences to the families of the Muslims who were killed in Christchurch in a clearly planned terrorist attack and claimed that Islamophobia and racism go hand in hand.
The resolution, titled “Combating terrorism and other acts of violence based on religion or belief”, was adopted in a 193-member Assembly.
Pakistani Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi mentioned India’s Hindutva ideology, saying it was giving rise to “bigotry, intolerance, anti-Muslim hatred and xenophobia.”
I her speech, Ambassador Lodhi noted that nine victims of the Christchurch attack hailed from Pakistan.
“The Christchurch terrorist was only the latest manifestation of a growing phenomenon rooted in hate, bigotry, racism, and the extremist ideology of racial and white supremacy,” said Lodhi.
