'Sorry To Say': Pak PM Imran Khan Blames Muslim Nations For Failing To Check Islamophobia

Imran Khan told the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) gathering in Islamabad that there is no distinction between kinds of Islam and that the faith has nothing to do with terrorism.

New Delhi: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Tuesday that Islamophobia rose after the 9/11 terror attacks and continued unabated because Muslim nations did little to counter the false narrative that Islam was synonymous with terrorism.

Imran Khan told the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) gathering in Islamabad that there was no distinction between types of Islam and the faith had nothing to do with terrorism, news agency ANI reported.

He questioned how the West could tell the difference between moderate and radical Muslims when it equates Islam with terrorism.

"I have spent a lot of my life in England, touring all over the world as an international sportsman. I understand western civilisation probably much better than most people. ...I saw this growing (Islamophobia) after 9/11," Imran Khan was quoted by ANI in its report.

While referring to the 2019 Christchurch Mosque shooting event in New Zealand, Pakistan PM Imran Khan said, "This Islamaphobia kept growing and the reason was -- I am sorry to say -- we the Muslim countries did not do anything to check this wrong narrative. How can any religion have anything to do with terrorism? How was Islam equated with terrorism? And once that happens, how does a man in the western country differentiate between a moderate Muslim and a radical Muslim. How can he differentiate? Hence this man walks into a mosque and shoots everyone."

"Unfortunately, what should have been done, but wasn't... the head of Muslim countries should have taken a stand on this. But a lot of heads of states said that they were moderates," he added.

This address comes as Imran Khan faces a no-confidence motion from opposition parties. The Pakistan government is likewise facing a severe economic downturn under the leadership of the cricketer-turned-politician.

The OIC's 48th Council of Foreign Ministers (CFMs) convened in Islamabad earlier today.

Over 100 resolutions will be examined during the two-day session, according to Pakistani media. Despite the fact that the conference is being held to support OIC efforts in Afghanistan, Pakistan is expected to bring up the subject of Kashmir while failing to speak about Shia Muslims in their own nation.

(With ANI Inputs)