Brunei's message to the United Nations: We want increased action against Islamophobia

Brunei Minister of Foreign Affairs II Dato Seri Setia Awang Erywan Mohd Yusof delivering his speech at the General Debate of the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly. - Borneo Bulletin/ANN

UNITED NATIONS (Borneo Bulletin/ANN): Brunei has joined calls for increased action against religious hatred, especially Islamophobia and anti-Islam sentiments, said Minister of Foreign Affairs II Dato Seri Setia Awang Erywan Mohd Yusof at the General Debate of the 78th Session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly.

“Justifying religious hatred, even under the pretext of freedom of expression, is unacceptable,” said the minister after stating that the Sultanate joins the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the UN Alliance of Civilizations and UN member states that have called for increase action against religious hatred.

“Our pursuit for peace will only be worthwhile if we address the root causes of such acts, especially those promoting discord, intolerance and hatred,” said the minister, referring to “deliberate actions, like the burning of the Holy Quran, the very centre of Islamic faith”, adding that such actions, “provokes disharmony, erodes trust, underminds efforts towards sustainable peace and threatens unity”.

Meanwhile, Awang Erywan said the UN plays a central role in mobilising resources and coordinating international efforts to bring, peace, development and prosperity to its member states.

“As we move towards a new global order in a multipolar world, small states like Brunei Darussalam recognise and appreciate the importance of the UN in maintaining international peace and security, through a rules-based order,” he said.

“We will continue to uphold the very principles this organisation was founded on, almost eight decades ago, in particular respect for the sovereign equality, territorial integrity and political independence of all states.

“Therefore, Brunei Darussalam is ready to forge a new global consensus that preserves these values while addressing emerging issues and resolving existing challenges,” said the minister.

On Palestine, the minister said the country strongly condemns actions that “blatantly violate the rights and dignity of the Palestinian people”.

He noted that Palestine is evident of the UN’s collective failure, as it has continuously been denied of its fundamental freedoms safeguarded under the UN Charter.

“The 75th anniversary of the Na’kba earlier this year served as a reminder of how long and intolerable it has been for the Palestinian people to be deprived of their rights to self-rule, self-determination, and peace. For most, they have spent their entire lives under occupation,” he said. - Borneo Bulletin/ANN