PAKISTAN prime minister Imran Khan has called for action against Islamophobic websites and urged the international community to holistically counter the “prejudice” against Muslims.
He said the pattern of recent attacks on Muslims in western countries pointed to “growing Islamophobia” and this requires a better understanding of the community to negate the wrong notion about Islam.
The term “Islamic radicals” indicates there is something wrong with the religion, although terrorism has no religion and extremists are found in every society, he said in an interview with CBC TV.
He said world leaders should commit to fighting online hate which divides humanity and “whenever they decide upon taking action, this will be dealt with”.
Khan’s remarks came days after four members of a Pakistan-origin Muslim family were killed in the Canadian city of London in what the police called a “hate attack”. The family had moved to Canada from Pakistan in 2007.
Some Canadian laws also contributed to Islamophobia, Khan said, referring to Quebec’s Bill 21 which banned public servants, including teachers and police officers from wearing religious symbols at work.
Khan called such laws “secular extremism” that led to “intolerance against Muslims”.
“You want humans to be free to express the way they want to, as long as it doesn’t cause pain and hurt to other human beings,” he said.
He wondered why wearing a hijab or growing a beard should be an issue in liberal democracies.
“People objecting to hijab and a beard is quite bizarre for me.”
Moglai Bap and Mo Chara of Kneecap perform at Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm in Pilton, Somerset, Britain, June 28, 2025. REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Police may probe anti-Israel comments at Glastonbury
BRITISH police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after performers at Glastonbury Festival made anti-Israel comments during their shows.
"We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon," Avon and Somerset Police, in western England, said on X late on Saturday (28).
Irish hip-hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan made anti-Israeli chants in separate shows on the West Holts stage on Saturday. One of the members of Bob Vylan chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in a reference to the Israel Defense Forces.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," the police statement said.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain said it was "deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival".
Prime minister Keir Starmer said earlier this month it was "not appropriate" for Kneecap to appear at Glastonbury.
The band's frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert in November. He has denied the charge.
A British government minister said it was appalling that the anti-Israel chants had been made at Glastonbury, and that the festival's organisers and the BBC broadcaster - which is showing the event - had questions to answer.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously," he said.
(Reuters)