Annan: Islam Phobia is the Worst of Bigotry

‘One of the most disturbing manifestations of hatred in our time is Islamic phobia,’ said Annan as he described the issue of phobia as ‘discrimination emerging before people with a new name.’ The Secretary-General wished for an end to bigotry towards Jewish and Muslim people.

In a speech for a special program in memory of renown Scottish Poet, Robert Burns, at the U.N. building, Annan said that after the September 11th, many Muslims in the Western world were placed in the center of suspicion, violence and discrimination.

In the same way, Annan views Anti-Semitism as another threat to the world. He said attacks on synagogues and Jewish cemeteries in Turkey and different parts of the world indicate hatred lives in our time as well. Annan emphasized that rage against Israel should not pave the way to Anti-Semitism.