India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ruchira Kamboj, voiced India’s opposition to the establishment of a UN Special Envoy for Islamophobia during the adoption of a resolution on “Measures to Combat Islamophobia” at the UN General Assembly.
Describing India as “a proud champion of pluralism,” Ambassador Kamboj said that while Islamophobia is a significant issue, discrimination against other religions must also be acknowledged. She cited instances of discrimination against Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism, noting attacks on temples, monasteries, and Gurudwaras as examples of religio-phobia against non-Abrahamic religions.
Ambassador Kamboj said there’s a need to recognize the prevalence of religious phobia across various faiths and cautioned against solely focusing on combatting Islamophobia. She argued that allocating resources solely for this purpose may perpetuate a sense of exclusion and inequality, advocating for a comprehensive approach that addresses challenges faced by all religions.
The resolution, facilitated by Pakistan on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), aimed to address discrimination faced by Muslims worldwide. Pakistan’s chief diplomat at the UN, Ambassador Munir Akram, highlighted the need for bold and decisive actions to counter Islamophobia.
