PRIME Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan strongly condemned the recent burnings of the Quran and populist discourse that incites hate speech against Islam.

In a joint statement issued yesterday after the leaders’ meeting in New York on the margins of the United Nations (UN) general assembly, they also expressed concern over the emergence of a “new form of racism” characterised by xenophobia, negative profiling and stereotyping of Muslims.

Erdogan and Anwar also expressed “deep concern” about “the trend of increasing hatred, intolerance, discrimination and acts of violence against Muslims and their sanctities that has reached an alarming level in many parts of the world, especially in Europe”, Anadolu Agency quoted the statement.

The leaders said they welcomed the adoption of General Assembly Resolution 76/254 to declare March 15 “International Day to Combat Islamophobia”.

They also welcomed the urgent debate during the 53rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council to discuss the “alarming rise” in premeditated and public acts of religious hatred as manifested by the recurrent desecration of the Quran and the adoption of an UN Human Rights Council resolution defining the burning of holy books as religious hatred.

The leaders also welcomed General Assembly Resolution 77/318 on promoting interreligious and intercultural dialogue and tolerance in countering hate speech adopted on July 25.

Erdogan and Anwar also underlined that actions of religious hatred, racism, discrimination and xenophobia pose a threat to peace and incite a culture of violence.

The leaders called on all stakeholders, including governments, to increase efforts to address discrimination, xenophobia, racism and hate speech in line with international human rights.

In a media conference, Anwar said he and Erdogan have agreed to enhance cooperation efforts and strategies to curb anti-Muslim hate groups based around the world. 

“We discussed (the issue) of extreme prejudice against Islam in the West and other countries. In my meeting with President Erdogan, we agreed to enhance efforts on cooperation and strategies to resolve such issues,” Anwar said.

“A series of conferences were organised prior to this and they will continue (to be held). Further discussions on efforts against Islamophobia will continue to be pursued during Erdogan’s visit to Malaysia in December.”

Anwar said to address prejudice and extreme attitudes towards Islam around the world, 100,000 copies of the Quran have been published in various languages for distribution. 

He said 15,000 copies in Swedish were sent to Sweden while English copies of the Quran were shipped to Australia and the United States. – Bernama, September 21, 2023.