ISLAMABAD: Speakers at two different events on Friday urged Muslim Ummah to fight Islamophobia with unity and also stated that every individual segment of society has the responsibility to play its role in prevention of uploading, sharing, and engaging with blasphemous activities on social media.

National Rehmatul lil Aalameen Wa Khatamun Nabiyyin Authority (NRKNA) and Higher Education Commission (HEC) organised the events on the occasion of International Islamophobia Day.

Addressing the seminar organised by the NRKNA Chairman of the Authority Mr Khurshid Ahmad Nadeem said: “We have to give the same place to the followers of other religions in our societies which we hope and demand from the western societies,” he said and added that although “we live in Pakistan, we are global citizens and our every action has effects all over the world.”

Chairman of the Islamic Ideological Council, Professor Dr Qibla Ayaz said that the history of Islamophobia began with the announcement of Prophethood and the first Islamophobes in this world were Abu Jahl and Abu Lahab. He said that efforts are being made to create doubts in the minds of the young generation by giving a scientific narrative to Islamophobia.

Special Secretary of the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training Muhyiddin Ahmed Wani, who was the chief guest of the event, said that Islamophobia is a psychological disease for which most of the responsibility lies with other people, but some fronts have also been opened by our own people.

“We need to start a reform movement in Muslim societies as well,” He said that the Messenger of Allah established a society whose distinction was the establishment of peace, justice, respect, and harmony.

Shafqat Ali Janjua, the head of the National Curriculum Council (NCC), said that in order to be aware of Islamophobia, Pakistan need to develop our education system and curriculum on better lines and the NCC will work in close collaboration with the NRKNA for bringing the desired change of peace and harmony through education.

National Skills University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Mohammad Mukhtar said that we have to mold our youth in the practical aspects of life.

Journalist Sabukh Syed speaking on the occasion said that Rehmatul Lil Alameen Youth Clubs were being formed in religious madrasas and educational institutions all over Pakistan so that the doubts created in the minds of the new generation could be answered.

He said that there is an answer to every question and the answer should be given with reason. Violence, hatred, and boycotts are the symptoms of ignorant societies.

Director Rahmatul lil Aalameen Authority Suhail Bin Aziz said that the youth should learn media literacy and other arts so that they can deal with the economic and social problems of the present time. Director General NRKNA Zafar Mahmood Malik along with faculty members and students of various educational institutions and universities also attended the seminar.

The HEC chairman Dr Mukhtar Ahmed while addressing the Awareness Session for Prevention of Blasphemous Material/Activities on Social Media on the occasion of Youm-e-Tahaffuz Namoos-e-Risalat (PBUH) sqaid: “Every individual segment of society has the responsibility to play its role in prevention of uploading, sharing, and engaging with blasphemous activities on social media.”

Chairman, Legal Commission on Blasphemy Pakistan Rao Abdur Rahim and Director General, Islamic Research Institute and Professor of Shariah & Islamic Law at International Islamic University, Dr Mohammad Ziaul Haque also addressed the seminar, which was attended online by vice chancellors, deans, registrars, faculty members, and officials of HEC as well as public and private sector higher education institutions.

In his address, the Chairman HEC emphasized that parents and teachers have a major role in inculcating the importance and respect for religions, prophets, holy books and holy figures.

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2024