New York: Europe and the Arabs

The UN Special Envoy for Combating Islamophobia, Miguel Moratinos, warned of a significant rise in Islamophobic acts worldwide, cautioning that religion has become a tool in the hands of some political parties and movements seeking to polarize the world. He called for a "collective effort" to eradicate Islamophobia.

The Special Envoy was speaking to UN News ahead of the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, observed annually on March 15.

Moratinos noted the rise of Islamophobia in various parts of the world, stating that the surge in anti-Muslim acts in Europe is "extremely serious," in addition to the noticeable increase in other parts of the West, Asia, Africa, and the Sahel.

He said the rest of the world must remain vigilant against this phenomenon, but emphasized that "the good news is that the United Nations unanimously adopted an International Day to Combat Islamophobia." According to the UN Daily News Bulletin, UN Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Moratinos as his Special Envoy on Combating Islamophobia in May 2025, in addition to his existing role as High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations.

A Devastating Impact
The Special Envoy emphasized the importance of building peaceful and inclusive societies, as outlined in Sustainable Development Goal 16, which focuses on peace, justice, and strong institutions, where respect prevails and the rights of all citizens are protected, regardless of their religion or beliefs.

Moratinos stated, "If we do not harness our potential to create this social cohesion among individuals and communities, we will fail."

He cautioned that instead, religious beliefs and differences are being exploited "as weapons against one another," warning of the devastating impact of hate speech on societies today. He stressed that the collective responsibility for addressing this is "building a peaceful, democratic society," recalling Articles 18 and 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights concerning freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, and freedom of opinion and expression. He emphasized the need to integrate these two articles in a "positive" manner.

This balance between freedom of belief and freedom of expression is crucial given the polarization witnessed in some parts of the world, which is being exploited by political parties and groups, as the Special Envoy explained.

He stated that at this stage, "there is a twofold challenge." The first aspect of this challenge is the "enormous growth" of the influence of artificial intelligence and digital platforms, and their pursuit of economic gains in contrast to the slow pace of action to regulate these platforms.

Regarding the other aspect of this challenge, Moratinos said it is "the more dangerous aspect," namely "the political platform, not the digital platform. It is the people who encourage their constituents and their people to use social networks to abuse, spread hatred, and discriminate."

He added: "No political party says: 'Don't use these platforms, don't be aggressive towards Muslim communities.' No, they say they have freedom of expression." The Importance of Education

The UN official stressed the importance of investing in education and awareness about true Islam, coexistence and reconciliation, how to respect others, and explaining controversial issues and placing them in their proper context.

He said that after becoming more involved in this field due to his new role as Special Envoy on Combating Islamophobia, he discovered "the extent of ignorance about Islam in the Western world. People don't know what Islam is. They haven't read the Quran. Instead, they are influenced by experts who take verses and chapters out of context and then use them in a discourse of political polarization."

He said that, from this perspective, "we need education in schools, media education, and public education because there is a lot of misunderstanding and misconception about the reality of Islam."

UN Plan

The UN Special Envoy on Combating Islamophobia reported that a UN plan to combat Islamophobia is being developed and "will be ready for presentation this year."

He said the plan will focus on:
Understanding what Islamophobia is and what criteria determine whether an act constitutes Islamophobia.

Determining what needs to be done in the field of education and how to explain Islam correctly.

Law enforcement agencies and the legislative measures that each country must work on in this area.

Improving monitoring mechanisms.

Moratinos emphasized that "while we live in a very complex and uncertain world, all people and humanity must coexist."

He said that this humanity is diverse and multifaceted, encompassing different religions, cultures, and civilizations, including Islamic civilization, "so we cannot ignore this."

He added: "We must live together, and we must fight against any kind of discrimination, and in this case, any act against Islam and Muslims."