World should stand up to rising Islamophobia

By Muhammad bin Abdul Karim Issa, Secretary General of the Muslim World League and President of the International Islamic Halal Organization.

On the #InternationalDayToCombatIslamophobia, we confirm that the speech, slogans, and approaches of hatred are rising at an alarming rate, they are threatening the peace of our world and the harmony of its national societies.

Combating Islamophobia requires engaging in preventative measures on the levels of the family, education, and platforms of influence. Remedial measures include the enactment of effective national and international legislations that criminalize Islamophobia and classify it as a threat to national and international stability.

We also confirm that Islam is the religion of mercy, kindness, justice, and peace. This is backed by texts of jurisprudence and the biography of our Prophet, peace be upon him. It is the same path adopted by Islamic moderation throughout its rich and long history.

Moreover, we confirm that Islam is not represented by those who have deviated from its principles and values, nor by those who distort the meanings of its texts to justify their extremism and violence.