Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stated on Friday (Sept 22) that Quran burnings occurring in multiple countries are acts of Islamophobia aimed at inciting hatred. He believes that failing to take action against such deliberate provocations towards a religion is irresponsible and sends a dangerous message to humanity.
During his National Statement at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), held at the United Nations headquarters, Anwar expressed Malaysia’s concern over the rise of a “new form of racism” characterized by xenophobia, negative profiling, and stereotyping of Muslims. He emphasized that these manifestations are alarming trends that promote hatred, intolerance, and violence against Muslims and their sacred beliefs.
Malaysia is appalled by the attempts to legitimize these acts under the weak argument of human rights, according to the Prime Minister. Anwar, dressed in a light blue Baju Melayu with a gold-threaded sampin, emphasizes the importance of embodying values such as acceptance, tolerance, and mutual respect. He believes in promoting inter-cultural, inter-civilizational, and inter-religious understanding and cooperation.
Anwar stated, “We must unite our faiths in common cause to promote understanding and goodwill among our peoples, and strengthen peace and harmony among nations. These are indeed challenging tasks, but that is why we are here.” He firmly believes that no challenge is insurmountable if the global community, the member states of the United Nations, collectively commit to it.
He stressed the need for trust and conviction to make the world a better place, emphasizing the importance of working together on a platform of consensus and solidarity. During a bilateral meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, both leaders condemned the recent Quran burnings and the use of hate speech to incite animosity towards Islam.
In a joint statement, Anwar and Erdogan expressed concern about the emergence of a “new form of racism” characterized by xenophobia, negative profiling, and stereotyping of Muslims.
– Bernama
Credit: The Star : News Feed
