“Islamophobic sentiments are growing in Asia, but the situation in Europe is particularly alarming. Religious groups are becoming instruments of political polarization,” he emphasized.
According to Moratinos, Muslim minorities are increasingly being used in electoral campaigns as a target to attract voters.
Islamophobia undermines social cohesion and exacerbates tensions in societies, especially in those experiencing conflicts.
Miguel Moratinos
He also reminded of the importance of one of the Sustainable Development Goals — achieving peace in society.
The Special Envoy pointed to the danger of hate rhetoric in the digital space: social networks facilitate the spread of animosity, and technology companies respond to this “too late and insufficiently effectively.”
One of Miguel Moratinos's priorities is education and intercultural dialogue. According to him, there remains significant misunderstanding of Islam in Western countries.
“Many people do not understand what Islam is. They have not read the Quran and receive distorted perceptions from out-of-context quotes and politicized interpretations. It is necessary to invest in education — in schools, media, and society as a whole,” added the UN Special Envoy.
According to information from the UN News Service, the organization is developing the first global plan to combat Islamophobia, which will be presented this year. The document will include a historical analysis of the causes of Islamophobia, recommendations for legislative measures, and the creation of a monitoring system.
Miguel Moratinos urged states to appoint national representatives to combat Islamophobia, as is done in the fight against anti-Semitism.
The International Day to Combat Islamophobia is observed annually on March 15.
