MADRID: Kuwait’s Ambassador to Portugal Hamad Al-Hazeem urged for intensified efforts to combat Islamophobia, stressing the harmful impact it has on global perceptions of Islam, its culture, and history. He emphasized that hate speech only fuels extremism worldwide, undermining efforts toward peace and understanding.

Al-Hazeem made the remarks in a speech delivered on behalf of Kuwait’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdullah Al-Yahya, at the conclusion of the 10th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, held in Cascais, Portugal. He conveyed the greetings and best wishes of His Highness the Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, expressing hope that the forum’s outcomes would lead to positive, impactful solutions for global issues.

The ambassador highlighted the growing misunderstanding of Islam and the increasing marginalization, discrimination, and hatred directed at Muslims in various parts of the world. This trend, he argued, underscores the urgent need for the international community to raise awareness and take action against Islamophobia. Al-Hazeem also referenced the UN campaign launched by the High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations, Miguel Moratinos, in 2019 to protect religious sites, as well as the UN General Assembly’s decision to designate March 15th as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia.

In his speech, Al-Hazeem stressed the importance of global dialogue to promote tolerance and peace at all levels. He pointed to Kuwait’s long-standing culture of dialogue, peace, and moderation, which has been deeply ingrained since the establishment of the modern state. He also highlighted Kuwait’s constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression and belief, as a foundation for fostering inclusivity and mutual respect.

Despite being a small country, Al-Hazeem noted that Kuwait is home to over 120 nationalities, with diverse cultures, beliefs, and religions living together in harmony and security. “Kuwait serves as a model of coexistence, where people of different backgrounds live side by side in peace and mutual respect,” he said.

The ambassador also expressed gratitude to Miguel Moratinos for his leadership during his tenure, praising the core values of the Alliance of Civilizations, including monitoring, mediation, and the prevention of extremism. He reiterated Kuwait’s strong alignment with the Alliance’s objectives, noting that the country contributed $500,000 to the UN Alliance of Civilizations Trust Fund in 2013 to promote tolerance, peace, and moderation while countering terrorism and violence.

Al-Hazeem further commended the alliance’s efforts to address global divisions, particularly in the context of ongoing conflicts such as the situation in Gaza. He condemned the Zionist occupation of Palestine, which has led to widespread violence, destruction, and systematic starvation of the Palestinian people. “We are deeply concerned about the ongoing violations of international law in Palestine and the humanitarian crisis facing the Palestinian people,” he said.

The three-day forum, which concluded on Wednesday, was attended by a range of global leaders and dignitaries, including UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Miguel Moratinos, King Felipe VI of Spain, President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa of Portugal, and Portuguese Minister of State and Foreign Affairs, Paulo Rangel. Representatives from the Alliance of Civilizations Group of Friends, along with religious leaders, intellectuals, and officials, gathered to discuss critical issues such as peace and security, intercultural dialogue, and global challenges including racism, discrimination, and Islamophobia.

Founded in 2005 by Spain and Turkey under the auspices of the UN, the Alliance of Civilizations aims to prevent conflict by promoting dialogue and understanding between cultures and religions. The initiative focuses on countering the exploitation of cultural divisions by extremist groups, particularly between Muslim and Western societies. — KUNA