2025 International Day to combat Islamophobia: An lnternational Crusader for the Rights and Responsibilities of Citizens, Dr Oluedo Eric, has called on Political leaders, to shun the promotion of bigotry and Xenophobia in their areas of governance so as to combat Islamophobia. Speaking during the 2025 celebration, Dr Oluedo, praised the Governor of Kaduna State, His Excellency Senator Uba Sani, for shunning the promotion of bigotry and Xenophobia in Kaduna State. This, among other factors combated Islamophobia and restored peace in his state. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has repeatedly condemned the continuing acts of anti-Muslim hatred and bigotry around the world, warning on several occasions that this worrying trend targets not only Muslims but also Jews, minority Christian communities and others. Guterres believes that it is essential for governments to promote social cohesion and protect religious freedom, for online platforms to tackle hate speech, and for individuals to actively oppose bigotry and xenophobia.
Islamophobia is a fear, prejudice and hatred of Muslims that leads to provocation, hostility and intolerance by means of threatening, harassment, abuse, incitement and intimidation of Muslims and non-Muslims, both in the online and offline world. Motivated by institutional, ideological, political and religious hostility that transcends into structural and cultural racism, it targets the symbols and markers of being a Muslim. This definition emphasises the link between institutional levels of Islamophobia and manifestations of such attitudes, triggered by the visibility of the victim’s perceived Muslim identity. This approach also interprets Islamophobia as a form of racism, whereby Islamic religion, tradition and culture are seen as a ‘threat’ to the Western values.
The UN Human Rights Chief also voiced his alarm over the rise in global hatred, including anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, since the beginning of the Israeli military operation in Gaza (7 October) in response to the attack on Israel by Palestinian armed groups. Volker Türk strongly condemned the sharp rise in cases of hate speech, violence, and discrimination, both online and offline. He emphasized that states must ensure a safe and enabling space for participation and debate, consistent with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
The indissoluble link between the right to peace and the freedom of religion
Given the deep connection of religion to many conflicts around the world, the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, Nazila Ghaneon, notes that freedom of religion or belief creates the conditions, motivations, rationales and movements for peace to emerge, thereby strengthening conflict prevention, peacemaking and peacebuilding. The human rights expert notes that recognizing this relationship is particularly important given the frequency with which religion is invoked or implicated in conflicts. The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution sponsored by 60 Member-States of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which designated 15 March as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia. The document stresses that terrorism and violent extremism cannot and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization, or ethnic group. It calls for a global dialogue on the promotion of a culture of tolerance and peace, based on respect for human rights and for the diversity of religions and belief.
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