Islamabad, March 15, 2026: Pakistan on Sunday reiterated its commitment to combating Islamophobia and promoting religious tolerance, as the world observed the International Day to Combat Islamophobia.
In a message marking the day, Ishaq Dar, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan, expressed solidarity with Muslims worldwide and reaffirmed the country’s resolve to counter prejudice, discrimination, hostility and violence directed against Muslim communities.
Dar said Pakistan, in close collaboration with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), played a key role in the United Nations General Assembly’s historic decision to designate March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia. He described the move as an important milestone in global efforts to promote harmony, tolerance and peaceful coexistence among religions, cultures and civilizations.
He noted that Pakistan also contributed significantly to the adoption of another UN General Assembly resolution aimed at strengthening international measures to address Islamophobia, including the appointment of a UN Special Envoy to tackle the issue.
Welcoming the appointment of the United Nations Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia in May 2025, as well as the OIC Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Combating Islamophobia in May 2024, Dar said these developments reflected growing international resolve to address the challenge in a coordinated and sustained manner.
Highlighting global trends, he said Islamophobia has increased alarmingly in recent years, pointing to incidents such as desecration of the Holy Quran, attacks on women wearing the hijab, vandalism of mosques, religious profiling and the spread of anti-Muslim hate in public discourse and media.
According to the foreign minister, such acts not only fuel intolerance but also aggravate tensions and conflicts, posing a threat to international peace and security.
Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to working with OIC member states and the UN Special Envoy to develop a UN Plan of Action aimed at providing a structured framework to better understand, prevent and eliminate Islamophobia.
He also called on the international community to unite in condemning anti-Muslim hatred and to address the structural factors that enable it to flourish, urging countries to promote mutual respect, dialogue and understanding while upholding the values of tolerance, dignity and peaceful coexistence.
