The United Nations has called for an end to the persecution of religious groups.

Speaking during the first-ever International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion and Belief on Thursday, UN Chief António Guterres said the event was created in response to an increasing number of attacks against individuals and groups, targeted simply because of their religion or belief, around the world.

“Jews have been murdered in synagogues, their gravestones defaced with swastikas; Muslims gunned down in mosques, their religious sites vandalized; Christians killed at prayer, their churches torched”, he said.

Pointing out that all major world religions espouse tolerance and peaceful coexistence, the UN chief urged resistance to, and rejection of, those who “falsely and maliciously invoke religion to build misconceptions, fuel division and spread fear and hatred”, noting that there is richness and strength in diversity, which is never a threat.

In a message released on the day, Mr. Guterres said that the best way to overcome the threat of violence based on religion and belief is by “uniting our voices for good, countering messages of hate with messages of peace, embracing diversity and protecting human rights”.

Source: UN