Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has written a letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg calling for content promoting Islamophobia to be banned from the social media, and he took shots at India while championing his newfound cause.
“I am writing to draw your attention to the growing Islamophobia that is fueling hatred, extremism and violence around the world and especially through the use of social media platforms, including Facebook,” he wrote.
Noting that Facebook took steps to ban any post criticizing or questioning the Holocaust, a similar pogrom against Muslims has been witnessed in different parts of the world.
In response to Khan’s appeal, a Facebook spokeswoman told Reuters the company was against all forms of hate and did not allow attacks based on race, ethnicity, national origin or religion.
“We will remove this hate speech as soon as we find out,” the spokeswoman said in an emailed statement, adding that the company had “more work to do.”
In some states, Muslims are denied their citizenship rights and democratic personal choices from dress to worship, Khan said in the letter.
“In India, anti-Muslim laws and measures such as CAA and NRC, as well as targeted killings of Muslims and blaming Muslims for the coronavirus are a reflection of the abominable phenomenon of Islamophobia,” he said.
He added that in France, Islam has been associated with terrorism and the publication of blasphemous cartoons against Islam and the Holy Prophet has been allowed. “This will lead to further polarization and marginalization of Muslims in France. How will the French distinguish between radical extremist Muslim citizens and the majority Muslim citizenship of Islam? “
Prime Minister Imran said that the marginalization of any community leads to extremism, adding that this is “something the world does not need.”
“Given the rampant abuse and defamation of Muslims on social media platforms, I would ask you to place a similar ban on Islamophobia and hatred against Islam for Facebook that you have implemented for the Holocaust,” urged the Prime Minister of Pakistan. to the CEO of Facebook.
Imran Khan said that the hate message should be banned in its entirety. “While hateful messages against some are unacceptable, they cannot be allowed against others.”
The world should not have to wait for an anti-Muslim pogrom, which he says is “ongoing in countries like India” before Islamophobia is banned. “This in itself reflects biases and prejudices that will foster further radicalization.”
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