United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged religious leaders to challenge “inaccurate and harmful messages” fuelling ethno-nationalism, stigma, hate speech and conflict amid the coronavirus pandemic. The UN chief warned a video meeting on the role of faith leaders in addressing the challenges of Covid-19 that “extremists and radical groups are seeking to exploit eroding trust in leadership and feed on people’s vulnerability to serve their own ends”. He called on faith leaders to promote solidarity based on human rights and human dignity as well as social cohesion, mutual respect and understanding. Expand Close Global coronavirus cases and deaths (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / FacebookTwitterEmailWhatsapp Global coronavirus cases and deaths (PA Graphics)The meeting was also addressed by Catholic, Jewish and Muslim religious leaders and other UN officials involved in promoting inter-religious harmony. Rabbi Schneier said faith leaders “must be in the forefront of countering the hate mongerers in our midst who have invaded social media to disseminate xenophobia, anti-Semitism, bias against minorities and conspiracy theories, exploiting this tragic time for hatred and division.

Source: Irish Independent May 13, 2020 05:03 UTC