Geneva, June 30 (QNA) - The State of Qatar has expressed deep concern over the spread of the Islamophobia phenomenon in several countries.

This came today in the speech delivered by Sheikh Nassir bin Jassim Al-Thani, member of Qatar's delegation to the 29th session of the UN human rights council, during the General Debate on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance.

It is known that equality and non-discrimination form the cornerstone to human rights, said Sheikh Nassir expressing Qatar's deep concern over the spread of islamophobia in many countries and Muslims being harassed because of their faith and sometimes because of their race. Statistics indicate increasing incidence of assault and threat based on race and religion in the countries, which are classified as homes to democracy and human rights, without taking any effective and decisive measures to prevent such violations, he added.

Human rights on which all agreed, are interdependent, complementary and indivisible, therefor calling for exercising certain freedoms such as freedom of expression should be a cause for discrimination, hatred and contempt to others due to their races and faiths, he said. Such practices do not only undermine the rights endorsed by many international human rights instruments but also fuel the feelings of hatred and violence and threaten peaceful coexistence between individuals and communities, he added.

He went on saying that, events and meetings organized by countries, especially sports events represent a valuable opportunity to disseminate and promote the values diversity, tolerance, equality, combating racism and racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. This was confirmed by a number of decisions and reports issued by this Council.

Some tendentious campaigns that promote deprive countries of their right to host these events, as experienced by my country, the State of Qatar which won a well-deserved right to organize the 2022 FIFA World Cup for the first time in the Arab region and the Middle East, are launched by organizations which are characterized by racism which is contrary to the spirit and objectives of these activities, he said.

Concluding his speech, Sheikh Nasser bin Jassim Al-Thani renewed Qatar's commitment to continue cooperation with the different UN agencies, including the human rights council, in fighting against all manifestations of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and in spreading the culture of peace, tolerance and mutual respect among different cultures, societies and peoples. (QNA)