UN Envoy: Islamophobia Rises Due to Misunderstanding of Islam’s True Nature
Miguel Angel Moratinos, the United Nations High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations and recently appointed special envoy to address Islamophobia, expressed concern over the increasing prevalence of anti-Muslim sentiment in key Western nations.
In an interview with TASS, Moratinos stated that hostility toward Islam is becoming more pronounced in major cities across the European Union and the United States.
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He attributed this rise in Islamophobia to a fundamental misunderstanding of the religion. Misrepresentation and manipulation, he explained, have distorted perceptions of Islam, contributing to fear and prejudice.
"Islamophobia is on the rise in the main capitals of the European Union and even in the United States," Moratinos said, adding, "The root cause lies in a lack of understanding about what Islam truly is. There is too much manipulation and misrepresentation, which fuels misunderstanding."
As part of his new mandate from the UN Secretary-General, Moratinos aims to work with a wide range of stakeholders to promote a clearer, more accurate view of Islam. He emphasized that Islam, like Christianity and Judaism, is fundamentally a spiritual tradition guiding believers in their personal and moral development.
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Moratinos also acknowledged that anti-Muslim sentiment is a significant and growing issue not only in Europe and North America but in parts of South Asia as well, where long-standing tensions between India and Pakistan have heightened religious friction. “This is one of the major issues we all need to confront,” he remarked.
Source: Agencies
