During a high-level session at the United Nations General Assembly marking the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, India delivered a stern response to Pakistan's attempts to politicize religious issues. Parvatneni Harish, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, stated that India strongly condemns all forms of violence and hatred committed in the name of any religion. Without explicitly naming Pakistan, India pointed out that its neighbor has been consistently weaving fabricated narratives under the guise of 'Islamophobia' on international platforms, while simultaneously engaging in the systematic suppression of its own minority communities. The Indian delegation emphasized that the UN should adopt a comprehensive approach against all forms of religious discrimination rather than focusing on a single faith.
Criticism of Pakistan’s Internal Policies and Minority Rights
India used the UN platform to highlight the internal contradictions in Pakistan's human rights record, while parvatneni Harish questioned the neighbor's moral authority, pointing to the brutal suppression of the Ahmadiyya community within its borders. India asked the assembly what such treatment of a minority group should be termed if not religious persecution. Also, the Indian representative raised concerns over the large-scale deportation of vulnerable Afghan refugees and the reported aerial bombings conducted during the holy month of Ramadan. According to the Indian statement, these actions expose the hypocrisy of a nation that seeks international sympathy on religious grounds while practicing violence against minorities and neighbors.
The Philosophy of Sarva Dharma Sambhav and Secular Values
Highlighting India's civilizational ethos, the representative noted that India is home to followers of almost every major global religion, while he reminded the assembly that India is the birthplace of four major world religions—Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. India’s societal framework is guided by the philosophy of 'Sarva Dharma Sambhav,' which translates to equal respect for all religions. This principle, Harish explained, is the bedrock of the secular spirit enshrined in the Indian Constitution, while india argued that as a diverse and multicultural nation, it's more aware of the dangers of religious discrimination than most and remains committed to a world free from such biases.
Risks of Politicizing Religion within the United Nations
India expressed significant concern over the growing trend of weaponizing religious identity for narrow political gains. The delegation warned that politicizing religion doesn't resolve grievances but instead risks legitimizing selective and polarizing narratives, while india referred to the 1981 'Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief' as a balanced and enduring document that protects the rights of followers of all faiths. India urged the United Nations to maintain its credibility through universality and impartiality, cautioning against frameworks that focus exclusively on one religion while ignoring the broader phenomenon of 'religiophobia' affecting other communities.
Representation of India’s Muslim Population and Rebuttal of OIC
Addressing the status of Muslims in India, Harish stated that the country is home to over 20 crore Muslims, making it one of the largest Muslim populations in the world. He criticized the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for being used as a tool by Pakistan to level baseless allegations against India, while the representative asserted that Indian Muslims, including those in Jammu and Kashmir, exercise their democratic rights and elect their own representatives. India clarified that the only visible 'phobia' is the one directed against India's multicultural and peaceful coexistence, which certain elements seek to undermine through misinformation.
UN Secretary-General’s Call for Global Action
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also addressed the assembly, calling for stronger global measures to combat discrimination and prejudice against Muslims, while he warned that hatred against any religious group remains a persistent threat to social cohesion and universal human rights. Guterres noted that the world’s nearly two billion Muslims represent a vast array of cultures and societies, contributing to the richness of human diversity. He demanded firm action against Islamophobia and all forms of religious intolerance, while india concluded its statement by reaffirming its commitment to an inclusive global society based on equality, dignity, and the rule of law for every individual, regardless of their faith.