International Day to Combat Islamophobia is observed annually on the 15th of March. This holiday was created in remembrance of the Christchurch Mosque Shootings on March 15th, 2019. At this massacre, a lone gunman entered two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand during Friday prayer.

The attack resulted in 51 people killed, 40 people injured, and an uptick in white supremacy and alt-right extremist groups worldwide. This uptick in Islamophobic behavior puts everyone’s life at risk and that’s why it’s important for people and governments to take a stand against prejudice, intolerance, and violence against religious and minority groups.

The History Of The International Day to Combat Islamophobia

This international observance was created in 2022 by the United Nations. As we stated in our introduction, it’s an observation day that takes place on the anniversary of the Christchurch Mosque Shootings and it’s observed in over 140 countries.

The intent of this holiday is not only to remember the victims of that tragedy but also to help fight Islamophobia around the world.

Some Interesting Facts About Islam

We can’t discuss Islamophobia or even this holiday without knowing a little bit about Islam. That’s why we’ve gathered together some of the facts that we find interesting and made up a little fact sheet below. We hope that everyone finds the following facts to be informative and entertaining as well.

• Islam means peace and submission. Its practitioners practice peace and submission to God.
• The Arabic word for God is Allah.
• The purpose of every Muslim is to find God.
• Islam teaches that there is no such thing as inherited sin.
• Islam teaches that everyone feels to reject or practice any religion they so choose.
• Islam teaches that all people are equal, regardless of social standing or race.
• Approximately 3 million Muslims from around the world make the annual pilgrimage to the Kaaba in Mecca.
• There are over 1.8 billion Muslims in the world. That makes it the second-largest religion worldwide.
• The Islamic calendar began in 622 A.D.
• Muslims are supposed to pray 5 times per day.

Observing The International Day to Combat Islamophobia

This observance day can be observed by people taking the time to organize an event, spreading the word about the rise of Islamophobia in the world, and learning more about the problem of extremists targeting minorities and religious groups.

People can also spread the word about this day using the hashtag #DayToCombatIslamophobia on Internet posts for the day.