Nations urged to come together to counter anti-Islam hatred.

UNITED NATIONS -- Pakistan urged the global community on Wednesday to unite against all hate-based beliefs as the world observed the first International Day to Combat Islamophobia.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres reminded the world that nearly two billion Muslims who live on this planet 'reflect humanity in all its magnificent diversity. Yet, they often face bigotry and prejudice simply because of their faith'.

Last year, the UN unanimously adopted a resolution to observe March 15 as a new annual day of observance for tackling hatred and prejudice towards Muslims. In 2020, Pakistan initiated the move in the UN General Assembly to observe a day against Islamophobia.

March 15 was chosen because on this day in 2019, 51 Muslims were killed and 40 injured in mass shootings in mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.

World observes first International Day to Combat Islamophobia

'This is a moment for all of us to come together and reverse the tide of hate and bigotry that threatens to undermine solidarity, peace and cooperation among and within nations,' said Pakistan's UN Ambassador Munir Akram in his message.

The UN secretary general, however, underlined a key point in his message, noting that Muslim women often suffer 'triple discrimination' because of their gender, ethnicity, and faith.

In a message released on Wednesday, the UN described Islamophobia as 'a fear, prejudice and hatred of Muslims that leads to provocation, hostility and intolerance by means of threatening, harassment, abuse, incitement and intimidation of Muslims and non-Muslims, both in the online and offline world'.

'Motivated by institutional, ideological, political and religious hostility that transcends into structural and cultural racism, it targets the symbols and markers of being a...