UN official: Islamophobia rising in US and EU

Islamophobia is intensifying in the capitals of the European Union and the United States, prompting the United Nations to focus on educating the public about the true nature of Islam, according to Miguel Ángel Moratinos, the UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations.

Report informs that, in an interview with TASS, Moratinos, who was recently appointed as the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy on Combating Islamophobia, emphasized that the rise in anti-Muslim sentiment stems from a lack of understanding.

"In major EU capitals and even in the United States, Islamophobia is growing. Why? Because people lack knowledge about what Islam truly is. There is too much manipulation and misunderstanding," he said.

Moratinos underlined that his mission is to engage all key stakeholders to clarify the essence of Islam. "Islam is a faith just like Christianity or Judaism. It is a path to inner spirituality," he added.