Remarks by Under-Secretary-General Miguel Ángel Moratinos,
High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations and
United Nations Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia,
at the 51st session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers:
“The OIC in a Transforming World”
Istanbul – 21 June 2025
Your Excellency, Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdogan,
President of the Republic of Turkiye;
Your Excellency, Mr. Lejeune Mbella,
Minister of External Relations of the Republic of Cameroon,
Chair of the 50th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers;
Your Excellency, Mr. Hakan Fidan,
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye,
Chair of the 51st Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers;
Your Excellency, Mr. Hissein Brahim Taha,
Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC);
Excellencies,
Distinguished Ministers,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Al Salamu Alay-kom wa rahmatu allahu wa barakatu.
It is my profound honour to address this important Ministerial Conference in my new dual capacity as the United Nations Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia and as High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, a mandate I am honoured to carry forward with humility and determination.
I seize this opportunity to thank the OIC member states for their tremendous support for my new mandate.
I also congratulate the Republic of Türkiye for taking over the Chairmanship of the 51st session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers.
Excellencies,
Around the world, Muslims continue to face discrimination and persistent dehumanizing for no other reason than their faith.
Furthermore, Muslims are often challenged with Institutional discrimination and socio-economic restrictions.
Such biases are manifested in the stigmatization and the unwarranted racial profiling of Muslims, reinforced by biased media representations, and by the anti-Muslim rhetoric and policies of some political leaders.
Many such acts of intolerance and suspicion may not be reflected into official statistics – but they degrade people’s dignity and our common humanity.
In this context, the adoption of the General Assembly Resolution 78/264 in 2024 on “measures to combat Islamophobia” is a milestone in our collective efforts to combat this scourge.
The resolution condemns the incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence against Muslims as manifested in the increasing number of incidents of desecration of their holy book attacks on mosques and religious sites, and the insidious stereotyping of Muslims that too often goes unchallenged.
Islamophobia is not merely a matter of prejudice—it is a violation of human rights, a threat to social cohesion, and an affront to the principles enshrined in the UN Charter.
Islamophobia is not confined to geographical boundaries. It manifests in overt violence, but also in the quieter cruelty of exclusion—when Muslim women are denied employment because of their headscarves; when children are bullied in schools because of their names; when entire communities are surveilled or vilified in political discourse.
Equally concerning is the digital amplification of hatred. Online platforms have become fertile ground for the spread of anti-Muslim narratives, often reinforced by algorithms. The digital space — once hailed as a frontier of freedom — is now, too often, a theatre for hostility.
But while the problem is global, so too must be the solution.
Resolution 78/264 rightly emphasizes the transformative power of interreligious and intercultural dialogue. The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations stands ready to deepen partnerships that promote mutual respect, coexistence, and understanding—across faiths, cultures, and sectors. Our work is not to defend any one religion; it is to defend the human right of all people to practice their religion or faith – without fear.
As Special Envoy, I intend to work in close coordination with OIC Member States, civil society, faith leaders, and regional organizations to advance a comprehensive strategy rooted in prevention, education, legal protection, and awareness-raising. This includes to mention a few:
- Supporting national action plans and strategies that addresses Islamophobia;
- Work on content analysis and encouraging responsible media and digital governance to counter online hate speech;
- Establish a compendium to serve as resource hub documenting incidents of Islamophobia based on a robust monitoring mechanism
- Identifying legislative gaps that may prevent the adoption of adequate measures to address Islamophobic incidents
- Develop media literacy programs to promote critical thinking skills
- Collaborate and coordinate with counterparts in other international and regional organizations including envoys to combat Islamophobia
- Conduct visits to places where acts of Islamophobia are recurrent and engage with relevant stakeholders to find common ground in addressing these incidents
- Advance the mapping of religious sites through the UN Plan of Action for Safeguarding Religious Sites which was developed by UNAOC
- Last but not least, develop an Action Plan to combat Islamophobia, hopefully in 2026
I also plan to convene a high-level event on addressing Islamophobia at the UN headquarters in New York in 2026. The high-level gathering will bring together member states and non-state actors including civil society, religious leaders , think tanks and media to exchange views on good practices in addressing Islamophobia.
Allow me also to underline the importance of accountability. In this context an annual report on implementation efforts is necessary. This is not a bureaucratic exercise—it is a moment to measure progress, identify gaps, and ensure that our actions match our rhetoric.
In closing, let us remind ourselves that combating Islamophobia is not a task for Muslims alone. It is a global imperative, requiring political will, moral courage, and sustained multilateral cooperation.
The dehumanization of Islam in Europe is neither acceptable nor justifiable. Two billion people have the right to live in peace and dignity free of fear and injustice.
Let us reaffirm our shared vision: a world in which diversity is not merely tolerated but celebrated; a world in which dignity is not contingent upon identity or confined to a specific religion or faith.
Let us rise to the occasion. The stakes are too high, and the silence of inaction is no longer an option.
I Thank you