Guterres’ video message came ahead of the International Day to combat Islamophobia. Rights groups around the world and the UN have noted a rise in Islamophobia, anti-Arab bias and antisemitism since the start of Israel’s devastating military assault on Gaza following Hamas’s deadly Oct 7, 2023, attack.

“We are witnessing a disturbing rise in anti-Muslim bigotry. From racial profiling and discriminatory policies that violate human rights and dignity, to outright violence against individuals and places of worship,” the UN chief said, without mentioning any specific country or government.

“Online platforms must curb hate speech and harassment. And we must all speak out against bigotry, xenophobia and discrimination.”

Rights advocates have for years raised concerns about stigma faced by Muslims and Arabs because of how some people conflate those communities with Islamist militant groups.

At present, many pro-Palestinian activists, including in Western nations such as the US, have complained and say that their advocacy for Palestinian rights is wrongly labelled by their critics as support for Hamas.

In recent weeks, rights watchdogs have published data noting record levels of anti-Muslim hate incidents and hate speeches in countries such as the UK, US and India, among others. The governments of those countries say they aim to combat all forms of discrimination.