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Pakistan urges UN Human Rights Council to boost efforts to halt growing Islamophobia

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GENEVA, Oct 05 (APP)

Pakistan has called for redoubling efforts to halt and reverse the rising trend of Islamophobia and other forms of racial discrimination, emphasizing that “meaningful accountability of the perpetrators” must be ensured.

“Islamophobia is a dangerous form of contemporary racism, nurtured by decades of public rhetoric and policies against as well as stereotyping of Muslim communities and minorities,” Ambassador Khalil Hashmi, permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN office in Geneva, told the UN Human Rights Council on Monday.

In a separate speech on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Ambassador Hashmi rejected any effort to legislate discriminatory and targeted measures against Muslim individuals and communities under the garb of countering terrorism in certain Western and other countries.

The Pakistani envoy made those speeches in the 47-member Council’s general debate on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance.

Speaking for Pakistan, Ambassador Hashmi said the most visible and consequential examples of Islamophobia were evident through the steady rise of extremist right-wing Hindutva ideology in South Asian region that has targeted Muslims, Christians and Dalits, among others, through communal violence, deprivation of citizenship, attacks on religious sites, forced conversions, and prohibition of religious practices.

Violent attacks have resulted in the loss of life and economic damages, he said, voicing concern that many of the perpetrators of these crimes enjoy state patronage and protection, reinforcing a growing culture of impunity.

Pointing out that the people under foreign occupation are most vulnerable to multiple forms of discrimination,” Ambassador Hashmi said, “These disturbing trends are most vivid in Occupied Jammu and Kashmir where the neo-colonialist regime is changing the demographic structure by converting Muslim majority into a minority and effacing their distinct cultural and religious identity, in clear violation and defiance of international law.”

Speaking on behalf of OIC, Ambassador Hashmi said that the failure to combat racial discrimination, xenophobia and religious intolerance not only threatens societies but also undermines aspirations for peaceful global coexistence.

“We strongly condemn and call for ending incitement to violence through denigration of revered religious personalities and symbols by way of caricature competitions of the Holy Prophet (PBUH), destruction of mosques; and ban on construction of minarets,” he said.

The OIC deplored defamation of any religion, saying using Islamophobia as a tool to boost political or media ratings, as evident in some so-called democracies, represents cumulatively a new form of institutionalized discrimination and deserves unqualified condemnation.

“The OIC registers its deep concerns over the ban on facial veils in some European countries,” Ambassador Hashmi said the recent European Court ruling that allows companies in the EU to legally bar female Muslim employees from wearing a headscarf, is tantamount to normalizing anti-Muslim hatred and Islamophobia.

“These steps are further marginalizing Muslim women and depriving them of their fundamental rights and basic freedoms,” the OIC said.

The OIC values the importance of the right to freedom of expression, but stressed that this right cannot be invoked as a license to hate speech, deliberate ridicule or willful insult other people’s religion, religious personalities and sensibilities”

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Developmental projects of Maldives progressing substantially

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6 hours ago

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18/05/2024

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India’s Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar has affirmed that the developmental projects of the Maldives carried out with the assistance of India have been progressing considerably. The remarks were made by the minister during the Confederation of Indian Industry (CIIs) Annual Business Summit.

Speaking at the summit, Minister Jaishankar stated that some developmental projects were slightly politically influenced, hindering the progress. However, he assured that the progress of the projects have propelled at a notable rate.

Following the Minister of Foreign Affairs Moosa Zameer’s official visit to India at the invitation of Minister Jaishankar, discussions were held highlighting the spectrum of initiatives across the nation has been kickstarted through loans and grants from the Government of India during the previous administration. He emphasised the current government’s commitment to prioritising the resumption and completion of these projects.

Meanwhile, the Government of India has reaffirmed its commitment to the development and prosperity of the Maldives by extending a budgetary support of USD 50 million to be repaid within a term of one year.

Source(s): PsmNews

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Police officers complete training to prevent maritime terrorism acts

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21 hours ago

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17/05/2024

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A team of 22 police officers has successfully completed a specialised training programme focused on thwarting maritime terrorism activities.

Entitled “Training on Strengthening Capabilities to Disrupt Maritime Crimes as Related to Terrorist Threats,” the program was conducted through a collaborative effort between the Maldives Police Service (MPS) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Running from May 13 to 15, the intensive training equipped participants with essential skills and knowledge crucial for combating threats in maritime environments.

The concluding ceremony, graced by the presence of Chief Superintendent of Police Ibrahim Adnan Anees, Head of Marine Police, along with senior officials from the Marine Police Department, UNODC’s Head of Office Enrico Boninsegna, and course instructor Kenneth Alferdo Pennington, highlighted the significance of such initiatives in enhancing national security.

Addressing the gathering, Adnan underscored the importance of ongoing education and skill development, urging participants to actively apply the knowledge garnered from the program in their professional endeavors.

The training, conducted at Dhoonidhoo, Kaafu Atoll, imparted vital insights into the prevention and detection of maritime terrorism activities, emphasizing protocols for safe navigation in high-risk areas. Furthermore, officers received guidance on investigative procedures essential for effectively addressing such crimes, thereby bolstering the nation’s capabilities in combating maritime threats.

Source(s): PsmNews

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President reverts land act amendment to parliament

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21 hours ago

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17/05/2024

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President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has reverted the Ninth Amendment Bill to the Maldives Land Act to Parliament for further consideration.

This bill, which seeks to establish criteria for recipients of residential land and mandates that land be allocated within three months of the publication of the permanent list of recipients in the gazette, was initially passed during the twenty-second sitting of Parliament’s first session this year and sent to the President’s Office for ratification on May 2.

In returning the bill, President Muizzu invoked Article 91(a) of the Constitution, which grants the President the authority to return legislation to Parliament for reconsideration.

The President’s Office has confirmed this, indicating the need for further review and potential revisions to the proposed amendment.

Source(s): PsmNews

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