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ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari urged religious scholars, educators, media professionals, civil society organizations, academic institutions, and young people to play an active role in combating hate speech and promoting a culture of respect, empathy, and constructive engagement. In a message marking the International Day for Countering Hate Speech, Zardari said legal measures alone were insufficient to address the growing challenge of hate-driven narratives and discriminatory attitudes. &ldquo;The challenge of hate speech cannot be addressed through legal measures alone. It also requires education, moral development and sustained efforts to build awareness and understanding,&rdquo; the president said. He called on citizens to ensure that their speech, writing and conduct reflect ethical values and the teachings of Islam, emphasizing that every individual has a role in shaping public discourse. &ldquo;By choosing respect over hostility and dialogue over division, we can help build a society where differences are addressed through understanding rather than hatred,&rdquo; he said. Zardari said hate speech, prejudice and incitement threaten social harmony, peace and human dignity, noting that in an interconnected world, the spread of hatred extends beyond national borders and affects global stability and development. Highlighting Islamic teachings, the president said Islam promotes compassion, tolerance, justice and respect for humanity. He cited verses from the Holy Quran encouraging believers to speak truthfully, kindly and wisely, as well as sayings of the Prophet Muhammad stressing the importance of good speech and peaceful conduct. Islam is a religion that upholds the values of compassion, tolerance, justice, moderation and respect for humanity, the president said, quoting some verses from the Holy Quran.&nbsp; The Holy Quran guides us to adopt civility, wisdom and righteousness in our speech and conduct. Allah Almighty says:&nbsp;&quot;O believers! Be mindful of Allah, and say what is right.&quot; (33:70) The Holy Quran further instructs:&nbsp;&quot;Speak kindly to people.&quot;(2:83) Allah Almighty also says:&nbsp;&quot;Repel evil with what is better.&quot; (41:34) The Prophet Muhammad said:&nbsp;&quot;Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak good or remain silent.&quot; (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim) He also said:&nbsp;&quot;A Muslim is one from whose tongue and hand the Muslims are safe.&quot; (Sahih al-Bukhari) Addressing the role of technology, Zardari said social media and modern communication platforms have expanded opportunities for expression but also carry responsibilities. &ldquo;In the digital age, social media and modern communication platforms have significantly expanded opportunities for expression. However, this freedom carries a responsibility to ensure that our words are guided by truth, wisdom and respect for others,&rdquo; he said. He warned that irresponsible discourse and hate-filled content fuel division, mistrust and violence, weakening the social fabric. The president also underscored Pakistan&rsquo;s diversity, describing it as a society made up of people from different faiths, sects, cultures and linguistic backgrounds. He said the country&rsquo;s constitution guarantees equal rights, religious freedom and dignity for all citizens. &ldquo;Our collective strength lies in unity, mutual respect and tolerance,&rdquo; Zardari said, adding that promoting interfaith harmony, inter-sect understanding and constructive dialogue remains essential for national cohesion. He noted that hate speech affects people in schools, workplaces, places of worship and online spaces, creating divisions and undermining trust within communities. Concluding his message, Zardari prayed for peace, stability, unity and prosperity in Pakistan and called for greater understanding, harmony and mutual respect among people worldwide.

Education

In a message marking the International Day for Countering Hate Speech, President Asif Ali Zardari urged all sectors of society to actively combat hate speech through education, ethical conduct, and dialogue, promoting respect, tolerance, and unity in line with Islamic values.

Pakistan president calls for collective action against hate speech

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has expressed support for the Muscat Plan of Action, describing it as an innovative and timely pathway to counter hate speech, prevent incitement to genocide and other atrocity crimes, and promote peace through dialogue, mediation and local peacebuilding. The Muscat Plan of Action is a UN-backed framework aimed at strengthening the role of traditional and indigenous leaders and communities in countering hate speech and preventing genocide, atrocity crimes and their incitement. Speaking at the launch of the Muscat Plan of Action at the United Nations headquarters in New York, Pakistan&rsquo;s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar, said that the initiative comes at a time when the world is witnessing a sharp rise in exclusion, intolerance and discrimination. &ldquo;Pakistan supports initiatives such as the Muscat Plan of Action and appreciates the urgency shown by the United Nations in addressing these disruptive and dangerous trends,&rdquo; added the Pakistani envoy.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 640px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2065227854917345717&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=ef5545f1c212c27393391d5ca5361035a9d8eaba&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> The launch ceremony was attended by UN Secretary-General Ant&oacute;nio Guterres, along with representatives of member states, international organizations and peacebuilding networks. Ambassador Iftikhar further said that the plan draws strength from the cultural legitimacy, credibility and influence of traditional and Indigenous leaders, particularly in societies where local mechanisms continue to play an important role in conflict prevention and dispute resolution. Inclusive and peaceful societies&ldquo;By mobilizing traditional knowledge, cultural practices, and local mechanisms, the Plan of Action reinforces States&rsquo; efforts for establishing just, inclusive and peaceful societies,&rdquo; he said. He noted that hate speech and incitement to genocide and atrocity crimes are driven by complex social, political and ideological factors, requiring an effective and holistic response at national,&nbsp;international and community levels. The Pakistani envoy said that heads of clans, tribal chiefs and Indigenous leaders have historically played a leading role in local governance, mediation and conflict prevention. Even today, he said, such leaders remain at the forefront of peacebuilding, dispute resolution and humanitarian relief efforts in many parts of the world. Ambassador Iftikhar reaffirmed that Pakistan would continue working with international partners to counter the ideology of hate speech and promote societies based on peace, equality and dignity. He said Pakistan remained committed to supporting collective efforts to transform communities into &ldquo;oases of peace, equality and tranquility.&rdquo; The ambassador also congratulated the Sultanate of Oman, the United Nations Office of the Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide and the Peacemakers Network for compiling and finalizing the Muscat Plan of Action. Pakistan said the initiative can serve as an important platform for linking global prevention frameworks with community-based peacebuilding efforts, especially in areas vulnerable to hate-driven violence and social fragmentation.

Foreign Affairs

Endorses the Muscat Plan of Action at the UN; Calls it an innovative framework to counter hate speech, prevent genocide incitement, and promote peacebuilding through traditional and Indigenous leaders.

Pakistan backs Muscat Plan of Action against hate speech, genocide incitement

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;On the International Day to Combat Islamophobia &mdash; observed annually on March 15 to raise awareness about prejudice, exclusion, and attacks against Muslims worldwide &mdash; new data from India and other countries indicates a growing trend of anti-Muslim hostility, discrimination, and hatred.&nbsp;India stands out for the scale of documented hate speech incidents in the past year alone, with fresh data pointing to a widening pattern of anti-Muslim hostility, discrimination, and hate.&nbsp;&nbsp;A 2025 report by India Hate Lab documented 1,318 hate speech events targeting religious minorities -- a majority of them Muslims -- across 21 states, one union territory, and the National Capital Territory of Delhi, averaging roughly four incidents a day.&nbsp; The report said this marked a 13% increase from 1,165 incidents in 2024 and a 97% increase from 668 incidents in 2023. The UN High Commisioner Human Rights, Volker T&uuml;rk, released a video statement, saying &ldquo;We need to call out Muslim hatred wherever we find it.&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2033084198085435435&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fmedia-library%2F&sessionId=2ccfa1571c6c120c81b9b8d41e10598d3b8c2617&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 897px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>In the European Union, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights found in 2024 that 47% of Muslims in 13 member states had experienced racial discrimination in the previous five years, up from 39% in 2016.&nbsp; It also found that 35% reported discrimination in the previous 12 months, compared with 25% in 2016. The highest five-year rates were recorded in Austria, Germany, and Finland.&nbsp; According to the Agency, in Germany, a 2025 summary based on official police data said 1,848 Islamophobic offenses were recorded in 2024, along with 79 attacks on mosques.&nbsp; In 2024, Statistics Canada reported a 94% increase in police-reported hate crimes against Muslims in the previous year, a number which experts agree does not capture the full extent of hate due to underreporting. In England and Wales, official Home Office figures recorded 4,478 anti-Muslim religious hate crimes in the year ending March 2025, accounting for 45% of all religious hate crimes where the targeted religion was known.&nbsp; Taken together, the figures suggest that Islamophobia is not confined to one country or one region, and sustained efforts are needed to promote mutual respect among communities for peaceful coexistence. The United Nations General Assembly officially designated March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia on March 15, 2022, after Pakistan introduced a resolution on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to raise awareness and fight anti-Muslim hatred worldwide.

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Europe

United Kingdom

Americas

Data from across the world, including from India, shows rising anti-Muslim hate, underscoring growing global concern.

Articles tagged with "Hate Speech"

Pakistan president calls for collective action against hate speech

Pakistan backs Muscat Plan of Action against hate speech, genocide incitement

International Day to Combat Islamophobia: Data shows anti-Muslim hate rising in India, other countries

Pakistan president calls for collective action against hate speech