India Abstains From Voting On UN Resolution On Islamophobia

Defense News ,India :-  In the recent United Nations General Assembly, there was talk about a resolution regarding Islamophobia. Let's break down what happened there.

The UN has 193 member countries. One of these countries, Pakistan, introduced a resolution about Islamophobia. They got support from China, and together they wanted to combat Islamophobia. But here's the catch: India decided to stay out of it.

This resolution got approved with 115 countries saying yes, none saying no, and 44, including India, deciding not to vote either way. Other countries like Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Ukraine, and the UK also stayed neutral.

India's representative at the UN, Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, spoke up. She said that while it's essential to fight against anti-Semitism, Christianophobia, and Islamophobia, we shouldn't forget that other religions face discrimination too.

She pointed out that it's not just about Abrahamic religions like Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Religiophobia, or fear and discrimination based on religion, also affects religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism. She reminded everyone that over 1.2 billion people follow Hinduism, more than 535 million follow Buddhism, and over 30 million follow Sikhism worldwide.

India was worried that focusing only on Islamophobia might set a bad precedent. They didn't want the UN to start passing resolutions for or against specific religions. Ambassador Kamboj said, "We need to focus on broader issues of religious discrimination, which affect many religions, not just one."

She also highlighted recent incidents of attacks on places of worship for non-Abrahamic religions. Gurudwaras, monasteries, and temples have been targets of violence. She mentioned the destruction of the Bamiyan Buddhas in Afghanistan and attacks on Sikh pilgrims and temples as examples.

India stressed that they're against all forms of religiophobia. They don't support discrimination or violence against any religion. But they believe that addressing religious discrimination should include all religions, not just one.

The resolution also called for appointing a special envoy to combat Islamophobia. India didn't agree with this idea. They thought it wasn't fair to focus on just one religion when there are discrimination issues faced by many religions.

Ambassador Kamboj reminded everyone of India's history as a diverse and democratic nation. India has always welcomed people of all faiths and provided a safe space for them. She said India has been a sanctuary for persecuted people throughout history, whether they were Zoroastrians, Buddhists, Jews, or followers of any other belief.

Before passing the resolution, there were two amendments proposed. One suggested removing references to the desecration of the Quran. The other proposed appointing a focal point to combat anti-Muslim discrimination instead of a special envoy. India supported both these amendments.

The UN had already declared March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia in 2022. This decision came after a tragic incident in Christchurch, New Zealand, where over 50 people were killed in attacks on mosques in 2019.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed his concerns about rising anti-Muslim hate around the world. He also mentioned discrimination against Jews, minority Christian communities, and others. He emphasized that hate against one group leads to hate against others and damages society.

In summary, India abstained from voting on the UN resolution about Islamophobia because they felt it was essential to address religious discrimination against all religions, not just one. They believe in equality and inclusivity for all faiths, and they want the UN to focus on broader issues of religious discrimination rather than singling out specific religions.