UN ‘selective’ in condemning violence against religions: Envoy

Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 3

India has called out “selectivity” at the UN in condemning acts of violence against religions. The UN General Assembly has failed to acknowledge the rising hatred and violence against Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, and underlined that the culture of peace cannot be only for “Abrahamic” religions, said Indian diplomat Ashish Sharma while addressing the UN General Assembly session on ‘Culture of Peace’.

India fully agreed that anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and anti-Christian acts needed to be condemned. India also firmly condemns such acts, but UN resolutions on such important issues spoke only of these three Abrahamic religions together.

“This august body fails to acknowledge the rise of hatred and violence against Buddhism, Hinduism and Sikhism also. Culture of peace cannot be only for Abrahamic religions. And as long as such selectivity exists, the world can never truly foster a culture of peace,” he said. “What we are trying to build here is an ‘alliance of civilisations’, not set up a clash. I call on the UN Alliance of Civilisation to act likewise and speak for all, not just a select few,” he said.

Sharma said the destruction of the Bamyan Buddha and terrorist bombing of a gurdwara killing 25 Sikhs, both in Afghanistan, and destruction of Hindu and Buddhist temples needed to be condemned.