Ambassador of Iran Urges Global Collaboration to Combat Islamophobia

Tehran: In a groundbreaking speech at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), His Excellency Reza Amiri Moghadam, the Honorable Ambassador of Iran to Pakistan, addressed the pressing issue of Islamophobia with a call for unified action and global collaboration.

Ambassador Moghadam commenced his speech by expressing his appreciation for the esteemed gathering of intellectuals and scholars at the ISSI. He extended his gratitude to Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, the Director-General of ISSI, and Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, the Chairman of the Board of Governors at ISSI, for their esteemed presence.

Highlighting the historical backdrop of Islamophobia, Ambassador Moghadam underscored that opposition to Islam has persisted since its inception, primarily due to the threat it poses to the vested interests of powerful entities. He emphasized that while the nature of opposition remains constant, its manifestations have evolved over time, often camouflaged to deceive public opinion.

Furthermore, Ambassador Moghadam elucidated how the logical and justice-seeking principles of Islam have been distorted by its adversaries, leading to defamation, slander, and character assassination campaigns. In the contemporary era, with the proliferation of modern communication tools, Islamophobia has emerged as a grave phenomenon, perpetuated through organized and systematic means.

The ambassador identified the roots of Islamophobia in the history of Western domination and utilitarianism, particularly in the post-Cold War era. He elucidated how geopolitical manipulations, regional conflicts, and the weaponization of terrorism have been employed to vilify Islam and Muslims, thereby perpetuating Islamophobia.

However, Ambassador Moghadam expressed optimism, citing the concerted efforts of Islamic countries, including Iran and Pakistan, in combating Islamophobia. He commended Pakistan’s initiative in proposing March 15th as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, which was subsequently adopted by the United Nations General Assembly. The ambassador emphasized the significant role played by both Iran and Pakistan in fostering unity and combating misinformation about Islam on the global stage.

Proposing a comprehensive approach to tackle Islamophobia, Ambassador Moghadam outlined various strategies, including tolerance, dialogue, media representation, and legal measures against religious violence. He stressed the importance of global solidarity and increased people-to-people contact in fostering understanding and countering ignorance.

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In conclusion, Ambassador Moghadam reiterated that terrorism and Islamophobia are shared challenges facing Iran, Pakistan, and the entire Muslim world. He emphasized that combatting these scourges requires collective action and international cooperation, as they pose a common threat to humanity as a whole.

The ambassador’s speech received widespread acclaim from attendees, with many commending his insightful analysis and constructive proposals for combating Islamophobia on a global scale.