UN Secretary-General António Guterres has issued a stark warning against the “rising tide of anti-Muslim hatred,” urging governments and tech companies to act decisively.
Speaking on the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, Guterres said millions of Muslims worldwide endure daily exclusion, institutional discrimination, unwarranted surveillance, and socioeconomic marginalization. He emphasized that silence in the face of bigotry only fuels its spread.
As Ramadan concludes, Guterres called on leaders to “safeguard equality, not entrench prejudice.” He warned that when those in power echo discriminatory rhetoric, “prejudice becomes normalized”-eventually hardening into policy guided by fear, not justice.
General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock added that digital platforms are accelerating misinformation and hate at unprecedented speed. “Online spaces should bring people together, not drive them apart,” she said, urging tech firms to do more to curb hate speech.
Both leaders stressed that combating Islamophobia defends not just one community-but shared humanity and the foundational values of inclusive societies.