Iran calls for Muslim unity against West’s Islamophobia campaign

Iran’s foreign minister has called for unity among Muslims in the face of a growing Islamophobia campaign in the West, saying the trend in prejudice against Islam poses "a daunting challenge" for the Islamic Ummah.

According to Press TV, Mohammad Javad Zarif made the remarks on Wednesday during a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to mark “International Day to Combat Islamophobia”.

“It is imperative for the Islamic Ummah to unite against attempts at embracing Islamophobia, including through such measures as the Muslim travel ban, banning Muslim symbols and the abhorrent use of such ignorant terms as ‘Islamic terrorism,’” Zarif said.

“Meanwhile, we must root out terrorism and extremism within the Islamic world. We need to take a unified and resolute stand against those who export hateful Takfiri ideologies,” he remarked.

Zarif lauded the determination of Islamic countries to address Islamophobia as one of the main challenges facing the Islamic Ummah.

He highlighted the OIC’s objectives in protecting the true image of Islam, promoting values of peaceful co-existence as well as encouraging interfaith and intercultural dialogue as an effective and valuable mechanism to combat all forms of racism, discrimination, xenophobia, Islamophobia, extremism and incitement to hatred based on religion.

Zarif criticized the growing trend in intolerance and prejudice against Muslims across the world, in particular the West, which he said has become a hub for anti-Muslim media outlets, hate groups posing as think tanks and civic groups promoting a hostile and abusive environment against Muslims.

ME