LETTER: We welcome UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres' commitment to reject anti-Muslim bigotry, hate and intolerance in his remarks on Friday to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states during a meeting themed "Covid-19 Solidarity: Promoting Co-Existence and Shared Responsibility."
We confirm his reference to the holy month of Ramadan that teaches lessons of compassion, mutual respect and solidarity.
The rise in ethno-nationalism, stigmatism and hate speech targeting vulnerable communities is indeed growing, triggered by certain governments and groups.
Adding to the trend are some national leaders who are embracing the attitude of supremacy of their ideologies over minority Muslims and thereby fuelling hatred against them.
This is exacerbated by some media outlets which are abusing the freedom of the press by filing biased reports and journalistic pieces that create wrong perceptions towards Islam and Muslims.
Both far-right nationalist leaders and media practitioners in certain nations cultivate negative narratives against Muslims.
It is such practices that give rise to emboldened groups that hype the hatred campaign which is permeating across communities. Far-right groups take it upon themselves to terrorise Muslim minorities and pressure governments to enact policies to reject Muslims' rights, especially amongst migrants.
We call for the world's Islamic leaders to reject strongly the Islamophobic policies of some nations that have the tendency to deny the basic rights of Muslim minorities and have even enact apartheid-like regulations.
Islamophobia is the fear, hatred of, or prejudice against the Islamic religion or Muslims generally, especially when seen as a geopolitical force or the source of terrorism.
Muslim leaders should be forthright in their stand against ethno-nationalism, stigmatism and hate speech targeting vulnerable Muslim communities that exacerbate sufferings.
We welcome Guterres' pronouncement that "You have my total commitment to actively challenge inaccurate and harmful messages, promote non-violence and reject anti-Muslim bigotry, hate and all forms of intolerance".
This commitment must be reflected in actions.
With millions of Muslims under harsh treatment by regimes that target Muslim minorities, we call on the OIC and the UN to translate words into action to defend their legitimate rights.
Hate speech in India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, the illegal state of Israel and by the President of the United States Donald Trump does not hide their deep-seated prejudice against Muslims. Worse, their hate speech has turned into national policies and laws.
The double standard and hypocrisy are too obvious. While in public, the leaders would express the need for unity in their respective nations, but in reality, they encourage divisive expressions in local communities. Communal and sectarian assaults against Muslim minorities are now pervasive in many countries.
Discriminatory legislation is enacted to treat Muslim minorities as second-class citizens. In the case of Myanmar and India, and in occupied India Jammu Kashmir (IOK), discriminatory policies and laws against Muslims are institutionalised. All under the influence of falsehoods and lies directed towards Islam.
In the IOK, the local Muslims' identity and culture are suppressed on the pretext that India's BJP government has adopted the Hindutva ideology (Hindu supremacy).
In India itself, mob lynching and cow vigilante groups target Muslims. The security of Muslim minorities is under serious threat, especially since the recent enactment of the Citizenship Law which discriminates against Muslims.
There are dozens of recorded hate speeches delivered by politicians and Hindu religious leaders in Myanmar, India and Sri Lanka.
The UN chief's description that "Ramadan should draw lessons of mercy and compassion, of dignity and rights, of mutual respect and understanding, of unity and solidarity" is true.
However, in reality, Muslims and Islam have been the subject of misperceptions relating to violence and terrorism. They are subject to slander, derogatory insults and disparaging remarks or aspersions. Hurling insults at Muslims is a free-for-all.
Indeed, we stand firm in solidarity with victims of tyranny, oppression and discriminatory policies everywhere in the world.
Justice must be the guiding principle, and we urge all Muslim countries to render their support to the various Muslim minorities under siege, namely the Uyghur in China, the Rohingya in Myanmar, the Kashmiris in IOK and Palestinians.
These communities have undergone massive human rights abuses for decades, fuelled by hatred campaigns which normally start from speeches by leaders.
Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid
President MAPIM
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times