To mark the International Day against Islamophobia, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution calling for decisive action to combat religious intolerance and hatred targeting Muslims.

Initiated by Pakistan and backed by the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the resolution received overwhelming support, with 115 votes in favor and 44 abstentions.

The resolution, titled “Measures to Combat Islamophobia,” faced contention with proposed amendments from the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom, both of which were ultimately rejected.

One of the proposed amendments sought to broaden the scope by replacing specific references to attacks against Muslims with a more general reference to religious intolerance.

The second proposed amendment aimed to appoint a focal point rather than a Special Envoy, a move opposed by the Pakistani delegation who argued for the necessity of a dedicated envoy to address the complexities of Islamophobia comprehensively.

Central to the resolution is the call for the appointment of a Special Envoy of the United Nations tasked specifically with combating Islamophobia.

The adoption of this resolution comes at a critical juncture, as incidents of Islamophobia continue to rise globally.

From hate speech and negative stereotypes, to violent attacks on mosques and individuals, the scourge of Islamophobia poses a significant threat to the fundamental principles of tolerance, diversity, and respect for human rights.

In addition to calling for the appointment of a Special Envoy, the resolution urges member states to implement robust laws and policies to address religious intolerance and combat the spread of hatred and incitement to violence against Muslims.

The resolution builds on previous efforts by the United Nations to condemn acts of religious hatred, including the burning of the Quran, and to recognize such actions as violations of international law.

Source: Morocco World News

Bullying against Muslim students is happening all across the United States. It is real, it is ugly, and it is happening way more often than you might think.

According to a 2022 survey by the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding:

– 48% of Muslim families reported that their child had been bullied because of their faith.

– 20% of Muslim students experience bullying nearly every day.

Muslim students encounter various forms of bullying, including physical attacks, verbal threats, and social isolation. These experiences can leave them feeling threatened, frightened, and disconnected from their school community. Some common examples of bullying reported by Muslim students include:

Having their hijab pulled off without reason, being targeted with jokes and unfairly blamed, facing offensive questions about terrorism and bomb-making.

Bullying and racism have far-reaching effects on Muslim students such as:

– Emotional Impact: Anxiety, depression, insomnia, and low self-esteem are common consequences.

– Identity Struggle: Some students feel torn between being a citizen of their country and being Muslim.

– Cultural Disconnection: The feeling of a deep gap between the student and the society in which he lives.

In order to take action, we need to pay attention to the critical role of the educators. First, they should train to recognize the address biases. Then, they can raise the awareness about the contributions of Muslim Americans to dispel stereotypes. Providing moral lessons to educate students in terms of morality can be helpful as well.