Remarks by Under-Secretary-General Miguel Ángel Moratinos,
High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations &
UN Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia,
at the Center for Combating Islamophobia – Bilim University
Ankara, Türkiye – 23 June 2025
Note: As written. To be compared against delivery.
Your Excellency Prof Dr. Yafuz Demir,
Rector of Ankara Bilim University;
Your Excellency Dr. Basar Baysal,
Ankara Bilim University;
Distinguished Members of Parliament;
Esteemed Members of the Diplomatic Corps;
Distinguished Guests;
Mehaba.
I wish to warmly thank you for inviting me here.
It is a great honour to address you here today, in this exceptional setting – the Presidential Nation’s library which reflects a living symbol of Türkiye’s rich intellectual and cultural heritage.
Allow me to begin by recalling the words of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the modern Republic of Türkiye, who once said: “Peace at home, peace in the world.”
This timeless principle — that the peace and harmony of one’s nation are inseparable from peace among nations — speaks to the very heart of our purpose here today.
We gather at a time amid a tense and fractured global landscape.
The tragedies of war — in Gaza, in Ukraine, across parts of Africa, in Myanmar, Sudan and Yemen— continue to bring immense human suffering and deepen global insecurity. The dangerous escalation in Iran aggravates a region already on the edge. We welcomed the initiative of President Erdogan to have urgent talks in Türkiye. The United Nations Secretary General warned yesterday of a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control – with consequences catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region and the world. He called on member states to de-escalate and uphold their obligations under the UN Charter and other rules of international law.
The forces of division — intolerance, xenophobia, Islamophobia — are eroding social cohesion in many societies.
We face transnational challenges — the climate emergency, forced displacement, digital disinformation — that demand common purpose and global cooperation.
And yet, just when dialogue is needed most, trust is weakening — between states, and often within our own communities.
In this context, the mission of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations is more essential than ever.
Next month, the Alliance will celebrate its 20th anniversary — the product of an inspired joint initiative of Türkiye and Spain.
Nevertheless, two nations, from two different historical traditions and religions, came together in 2005 with the vision that dialogue between civilizations is not an abstract goal, but a real-world necessity — a pillar for peace and stability.
And I seize this opportunity to express my gratitude to the leadership in Türkiye and Spain for their commitment and substantive support for UNAOC. I echoed this gratitude to H.E. President Recep Tayyep Erdogan who has warmly received me on Saturday in Istanbul.
Over the past two decades, UNAOC was an essential bridge-builder…
Among governments.
Among young people, religious leaders, civil society, and media actors.
Across divides of culture, faith, and geography.
For the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, dialogue in its broader sense has been and continues to be our raison d’etre . Dialogue is anchored in our motto : Many Cultures, One Humanity.
When UNAOC was created in 2005, it was in response to a dangerous narrative: that civilizations were on a path of inevitable confrontation. Today, two decades later, we offer a different vision—one grounded in mutual respect, shared values, and the deep belief that our diversity is a source of strength.
Our work across the 5 pillars — in education, media, youth, women , and the promotion of positive narratives about migration — reflects a deep belief: that human dignity is universal, and that peaceful coexistence is possible when we foster mutual understanding.
Distinguished guests,
I wish to recall the founder of the United Nations, the late Dag Hammarskjold whose wisdom and vision still inspires all of us until today. He firmly believed in the richness that diversity brings to our world. When he was asked what was his favorite book he said “ Cervantes Don Quixote”.
Hammarskjold’s words resonates with my ideals and beliefs. As a Spanish citizen, I have seen the lasting influence and richness that Muslims brought to the Iberian peninsula from 711 to 1492. During that time, they shaped the area’s culture, art, science, cuisine, lifestyle, and infrastructure in countless ways. Muslims built spectacular palaces, fortresses, libraries, schools, and mosques. They brought a new understanding of mathematics, medicine, and agriculture to the region, and loaned many Arabic words to the Spanish language. The renowned term “convivencia,” a time of peaceful interfaith coexistence among Christians, Muslims, and Jews, took place during Muslim rule of Spain.
We need to remind ourselves everyday of these historical facts and timeless anecdotes.
Distinguished guests,
As many of you are aware, I have been recently appointed by the UN Secretary General as UN Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia , serving a dual role in addition to my mandate as High Representative for UNAOC, a mandate I am honoured to carry forward with humility and determination.
On Saturday, I was privileged to address the opening of the 51st Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers meeting.
I laid out my reflections on the challenges Muslims continue to face in non-Muslim majority countries. I also outlined the key action points that I see necessary to combat Islamophobia.
In too many places today, Muslim communities are facing growing hostility — in the form of discrimination, dehumanization, harassment and desecration of places of worship, and physical attacks.
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.
That’s why the adoption of two milestone resolutions by the United Nations General Assembly in 2022 and 2024 are significant,. The first resolution which designates 15 March as The International Day to Combat Islamophobia reflects the resolve of the Member States which supported the resolution to raise awareness about the insidious phenomenon of Islamophobia, advance mutual respect and understanding. This commitment was re-enforced last year by another significantly important resolution on Measures to Combat Islamophobia.
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.
Based on International Human Rights, hate speech on-line and off-line that amounts to advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence is prohibited.
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 is happening across the continents. 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.
The resolution 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 plan 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
- Working on content analysis and encouraging responsible media and digital governance to counter online hate speech
- Establishing 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
- Developing media literacy programs to promote critical thinking skills
- Collaborating and coordinating with counterparts in other international and regional organizations, including envoys to combat Islamophobia
- Conducting visits to places where acts of Islamophobia are recurrent and engaging with relevant stakeholders to find common ground in addressing these incidents
- Advancing the mapping of religious sites through the UN Plan of Action for Safeguarding Religious Sites, which was developed by UNAOC
- Last but not least, developing 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.
In delivering this mandate, I look forward to working closely with Türkiye — a country that embodies the values of cultural coexistence, that bridges East and West, and that has long championed interfaith understanding.
Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,
In these complex and often troubled times, we must remember: dialogue is not a weakness — it is a strength.
Diversity is not a threat — it is an enrichment.
Mutual respect is not an option — it is a duty.
As Atatürk so wisely taught, peace begins at home but must extend into the wider world.
In this spirit, let me close with the words of another great statesman of peace, Kofi Annan, the late UN Secretary-General, who said: “Tolerance, inter-cultural dialogue and respect for diversity are more essential than ever in a world where people are becoming more and more closely interconnected.”
As the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations enters its third decade, and as we intensify our efforts to combat hatred and intolerance, I invite all of you — Türkiye’s distinguished parliamentarians, diplomats, and citizens — to join us in this effort.
Let us stand together to build bridges, not walls.
Let us strive to turn understanding into action — for a more peaceful, inclusive, and just world.
Thank you very much.