UN Chief Urges Standing Against Anti-Muslim Hatred, Bigotry

The United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres in a statement called for standing against anti-Muslim hatred and also bigotry

NEW YORK (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / NNI - 23rd March, 2019) The United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres in a statement called for standing against anti-Muslim hatred and also bigotry."Today and every day, we must stand united against anti-Muslim hatred and all forms of bigotry," Guterres said in his statement while visiting Islamic Cultural Center of New York.The visit was made one week after the deadly terrorist attack in two mosques in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand.At least 49 people have been killed so far, and 50 seriously injured, after gunmen opened fire at two mosques in the New Zealand city of Christchurch on Friday when hundreds of Muslims had gathered to say their prayers."The horrific terror attack in Christchurch took place exactly one week ago.

Our hearts remain heavy with grief and sympathy for the families of the victims," the statement reads.Guterres sympathized with victims of the sad occasion, saying "over the last few days, we have learned more about those victims and their stories." He added "We have read about people like Haji-Daoud, Husna, Naeem, Hussain and other heroes and heroines who lost their lives saving others.""The attack was utterly appalling and yet, as many have noted, perhaps not utterly surprising," he noted.

Earlier, Iranian foreign minister Mohammad javad Zarif in a message referred to Iranians' awareness of the consequences of bigotry and hatred, saying they are not surprised by terrorist attacks.He went on to say "Hate speech is spreading like wildfire.

Social media is being exploited as a platform for bigotry, and public discourse is being coarsened.""Many political movements are either openly admitting their neo-Nazi affiliation, or lip syncing their words, and cutting and pasting the symbols and images," he said.

He added "That cancer is spreading. It is our duty to find the cure."A group of senior international figures, including Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iranian Parliament speaker Ali Larijani together with the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) condemned the heinous terrorist attacks.Zarif, who arrived in Istanbul, Turkey, on Thursday to attend the extraordinary meeting of the OIC, met avu?o?lu prior to the OIC event.The OIC meeting reviewed the recent terrorist attack against two mosques in New Zealand.Earlier, following the brutal incident, Zarif called his Turkish counterpart, who is the rotating head of the OIC and asked for an extraordinary meeting of the OIC.

NNI