ISLAMABAD, 28 November 2020, (TON): Pakistan on Friday asked the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to launch an international campaign for outlawing willful provocation against Muslims and incitement to hate.

At the 47th session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) in Niamey, Niger, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi proposed designating March 15 as ‘International Day to Combat Islamophobia.’

He appealed to the OIC countries to use their political influence and economic clout to prevent India from committing atrocities in occupied Kashmir.

He said “Islamophobia and hatred towards Muslims was on steep rise in the West and elsewhere. Recent despicable incidents like desecration of the Holy Quran and reprinting of caricatures of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) have seriously hurt the sentiments of over 1.8 billion Muslims around the world.”

Mr Qureshi added “these shameful acts could not and should not be justified in the name of freedom of expression.”

He said the rise and political mainstreaming of far-right extremism in many countries were creating a hostile environment for Muslims and it was critical to raise awareness about this new scourge.

The foreign minister said the rising wave of Hindutva in India had emerged as a serious threat not only to Indian Muslims but also to regional security.

He said the Modi government was systematically attacking India’s over 180 million Muslims.

“We must take cognizance of these crimes lest we see another bloodbath of Indian Muslims,” the foreign minister said.

He praised the OIC for being at the forefront of efforts to support the legitimate and just struggle of the Kashmiri people for their inalienable right to self-determination. “The beleaguered people of IIOJK, now more than ever, look towards the OIC and the Ummah to help alleviate their sufferings.”

Muslims continue to be targeted with impunity in many countries. Islamophobia and provocation against Muslims is another way to exert ideological power on Muslim world. However, OIC must work to outlaw the deliberate provoke to demean Muslims.