Image: Muslim World League

Faizel Patel – 28/05/2021

(Twitter: @FaizelPatel143)

The Muslim World League (MWL) has launched the #RejectHate campaign to end Islamophobic content and hate speech on social media and urged Muslims to stand up against the prejudice.

The campaign calls for social media platforms to remove all hate speech targeting Muslims and other religious groups to create a more peaceful and tolerant world.

Secretary General of the MWL Dr. Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa released a video to kickstart the #RejectHate campaign after establishing the Durban-based Mercy and Peace Foundation, which seeks to end gender-based violence (GBV), abuse, human trafficking and other crimes against humanity.

Speaking to Radio Islam, the MWL’s advisor for the African continent Sheikh Waleed Al-Saadi says Dr. Al-Issa travelled the world meeting with religious leaders to foster harmony and peace.

“He achieved a lot Alhamdulillah. But when it comes to hate speech and especially social media companies like Twitter and Facebook for allowing those posts to be on social media causing a lot of hatred amongst people all over among religious also (sic).”

Sheikh Al-Saadi says social media companies have rejected hate speech before for other faiths and religions.

“The problem is that they have done it before and we know that they have done it for the holocaust. Anything that you put out about the holocaust or denying the holocaust, you are in trouble. So why then it won’t be for another religion, I am not talking only about Islam, any religion.”

Sheikh Al-Saadi says the #RejectHate campaign is very important to Muslims.

“Muslims have to stand up. Islamophobia all around Europe and America today is affecting our Muslim people, especially the sisters. So we are saying now, enough is enough. We need to join hands Muslims and non-Muslims and say to the companies, to those running Twitter and social media to say you have to stop that.”

Sheikh Al-Saadi says people can use #RejectHate to be part of the campaign and create awareness about the targeted attacks on social media against Muslims and other religions and faiths.

Listen to the interview with Sheikh Waleed Al-Saadi