‘Islamophobia’ fuelling terrorism, says UN chief
Guterres seeks Yemen talks ‘resurrection’
RIYADH: “Islamophobia” in parts of the world is fuelling terrorism, the head of the United Nations said on a visit to Saudi Arabia yesterday, as anti-immigrant sentiment rises in some countries. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made the comment to reporters after talks with Saudi King Salman, Crown Prince and Interior Minister Mohammed bin Nayef, and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
“One of the things that fuel terrorism is the expression in some parts of the world of Islamophobic feelings and Islamophobic policies and Islamophobic hate speeches,” Guterres said at a joint news conference with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Al-Jubeir. “This is sometimes the best support that Daesh can have to make its own propaganda,” Guterres said, using an Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group of extremists in Syria and Iraq. The group has also claimed deadly attacks in Saudi Arabia and in Europe.
Anti-immigration politicians including France’s Marine Le Pen have seen their popularity rise after an influx to Europe of migrants, many of them Muslims fleeing wars in Syria and elsewhere. US President Donald Trump issued an order in late January that denied entry to all refugees for 120 days. It also blocked travellers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days. Refugees from Syria were blocked indefinitely. But the order has faced obstacles and on Thursday an appellate court decided unanimously to maintain a block on Trump’s order.
Syria’s conflict has created 4.8 million refugees and killed more than 310,000 people since it began with anti-government protests in March 2011. Guterres said “we will never be successful in fighting terrorism in Syria if an inclusive political solution is not found for the Syrian people.” A new round of UN-sponsored peace talks is scheduled for Feb 20 in Geneva. Guterres arrived in Saudi Arabia from Turkey and is to be in Dubai today for the World Government Summit during his regional tour.
Guterres also called for the “resurrection” of peace talks between Yemen’s warring sides to end the suffering of civilians. Thousands of people have died in Yemen and millions are struggling to feed themselves almost two years after a Saudi-led coalition intervened to support Yemen’s government and halt an advance by rebels. Seven ceasefires brokered between government and rebel forces by the United Nations have failed, while UN-backed peace talks have repeatedly broken down.
“You know, I am a Catholic. And Catholics believe in resurrection,” Guterres told reporters. “So if negotiations are dead they can always resurrect. And I do believe that they need to for a very simple reason, the suffering of the Yemeni people.”The world body has called repeatedly for a ceasefire to allow the delivery of relief supplies. UN aid chief Stephen O’Brien warned last month that Yemen could face famine this year if no immediate action is taken.
Guterres, who visited Yemen in his former post as UN High Commissioner for Refugees, praised the generosity of Yemenis despite their poverty. He said that to see them “suffering so much is something that really breaks my heart”. UN peace envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed also attended the press briefing as he continues to push a peace plan that would restore a ceasefire and lead to a political transition in the country.
A Saudi-led coalition of several Arab states began air strikes over Yemen in March 2015 to support the internationally recognized government of President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi against the Iran-backed Houthi rebels. The Houthis are allied with former members of the security forces loyal to ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh. — AFP