Urgent action needed to confront mounting wave of Islamophobia, UN rights chief warns
Turk warned of a growing global surge in anti-Muslim hatred on the International Day to Combat Islamophobia
NEW YORK, United States (MNTV) – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk warned of a growing global surge in anti-Muslim hatred on the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, calling for urgent action from governments, technology companies and the public.
“We sound the alarm about a mounting wave of Islamophobia,” Turk said in a social media statement.
“Recent studies show that around the world, anti-Muslim harassment, discrimination and violence have surged. The ongoing war in the Middle East has led to a sharp increase in Islamophobic content online.”
Turk said Muslims are being targeted in daily life — attacked in the street and at school, with mosques vandalized and hateful content spread on social media, often specifically targeting women and girls who wear the hijab.
He warned that discrimination can also be institutional.
“In some countries, Muslims face discrimination at work, and in accessing housing, healthcare and other services — at times this bias is embedded in law.”
“States have a duty to protect all people, including Muslims, from violence and harassment,” he said. “Islamophobia must be addressed with the same seriousness and urgency as other forms of hatred and discrimination.”
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