Photo: whitwhouse.gov
Five years ago, a gunman opened fire on worshippers at the Al Noor Mosque and the Linwood Islamic Centre in Christchurch, New Zealand - killing 51 people, injuring 40 others and forever tearing families apart in one of the deadliest mass shootings in history. Today, on the International Day Against Islamophobia, we remember these innocent souls who were stolen from us in peaceful prayer.
We are aware of the violence and hatred that Muslims around the world too often face because of their religious beliefs - and the ugly return of Islamophobia after the devastating war in Gaza. And we recommit ourselves to building a world where people of all faiths and backgrounds can live freely without fear of persecution.
This also applies to us at home. I have said it many times: Islamophobia has no place in our nation. Yet Muslims in the United States often face unjustified fear-mongering, blatant discrimination, harassment and violence in their daily lives. Today, Jill and I remember Wade al-Fayoume, the six-year-old Palestinian boy who was brutally killed in his own home last fall - a devastating loss for his family and community, and a devastating reminder of how all Americans must unequivocally stand up to hate.
That is why my administration established an interagency policy committee in 2022 to combat anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and related forms of prejudice and discrimination. We are also currently developing the first-ever national strategy to combat Islamophobia and related forms of prejudice and discrimination. The aim of this strategy is to mobilise a society-wide effort to combat all forms of hatred, discrimination and prejudice against Muslim, Sikh, South Asian and Arab American communities and to raise awareness of their heritage and invaluable contribution to our country.
We are also strengthening the security of mosques and other places of worship and working to prevent and prosecute hate crimes against vulnerable communities. And my Administration continues to implement the National Strategy to Combat Anti-Semitism amid a serious rise in anti-Semitism and to advance the White House Initiative to Combat Hate Violence. Simply put, we are taking concrete steps to make America's promise a reality for all Americans: that we are all equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives. We have never fully lived up to that promise, but we have also never backed away from it, and as long as I am President, we will not.
Today, as millions continue to celebrate the holy month of Ramadan, Jill and I wish Muslims around the world well and continue to pray for them. And we reaffirm our commitment to do all we can to end the vicious hatred of Islamophobia - here at home and around the world.
whitehouse.gov/gnews.cz-RoZ_07
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