Bilawal underscores important role of UN for constructive dialogue & collective efforts to combat hate speech & Islamophobia

Foreign Minister and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that he had useful discussion with President General Assembly Abdulla Shahid concerning the derogatory remarks by BJP officials against the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

In a statement issued on twitter, Bilawal Bhutto said that underscored important role of United Nations for constructive dialogue and collective efforts to combat hate speech and Islamophobia.

“Had useful discussion with PGA HE Abdulla Shahid concerning the derogatory remarks by BJP officials against Prophet Muhammad PBUH. Underscored imp role of UN for constructive dialogue and collective efforts to combat hate speech and Islamophobia” Bilawal Bhutto Zardari tweeted.

Meanwhile according to a statement issued by the Foreign Office Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, in a telephone call, apprised the President of UN General Assembly (PGA), Abdulla Shahid, of the derogatory and offensive remarks made by two senior officials of India’s ruling party BJP, against the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).

Noting that such willful and deliberate provocation had deeply hurt the sentiments of billions of Muslims around the world, the Foreign Minister urged the PGA to take cognizance of this abhorrent development amidst growing hate speech and rising Islamophobia in India.

Referring to the muted response of the Indian leadership on the incident, the Foreign Minister noted that silence could be taken as complicity, and could lead to further incitement to violence, communal discord and hate incidents.

Noting the UN’s positions on hate speech and Islamophobia, the Foreign Minister expected that the forum of the United Nations would be utilized for constructive debate among member states, also with a view to redressing this issue that has caused such pain and resentment among the Muslims. The PGA underscored the important role of the General Assembly and the need for the membership to work together on these issues. The Foreign Minister and the PGA agreed to remain engaged.