CHRISTIANOPHOBIA IS REAL: AN URGENT APPEAL FOR EQUAL RECOGNITION OF ANTI-CHRISTIAN HATRED IN UN GENEVA'S PUBLIC COMMUNICATIONS

To: The Director-General, United Nations Office at Geneva

Attention: UN Geneva Social Media Editorial and Communications Team

SUBJECT: An Appeal to Include Christianophobia in UN Geneva’s Campaigns Against Religious Hatred and Intolerance

Dear UN Geneva Communications Team,

I am writing to express my concern regarding a recent publication on the official UN Geneva Facebook page, which stated:

“Racism, xenophobia, antisemitism & Islamophobia are poisoning our societies. We must fight them — wherever and whenever they appear.”

Reference: UN Geneva Facebook publication on Sunday 1st November 2026 at 2:30 PM

https://web.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1551610310335600&id=100064599373095&rdid=kWLpGGzyb3B1XrOF#

I wholeheartedly support the United Nations’ commitment to combating racism, xenophobia, antisemitism, Islamophobia, and all forms of discrimination and hatred.

However, I respectfully wish to raise an important question:

Why was Christianophobia not mentioned?

Is hatred, discrimination, and persecution directed against Christians not equally deserving of recognition and condemnation?

Christianophobia is a serious concern. Christians in different parts of the world experience discrimination, intimidation, hostility, attacks on churches, restrictions on religious freedom, violence, and persecution because of their Christian faith.

Their suffering deserves international recognition, attention, and solidarity.

1. CHRISTIANOPHOBIA IS RECOGNISED WITHIN THE UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM

The recognition of Christianophobia is not merely a request from Christian communities. It has also been addressed in United Nations documents.

UN Human Rights Council Resolution A/HRC/RES/58/5, adopted on 2 April 2025, addresses religious intolerance and discrimination, including Christianophobia.

Furthermore, UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/80/202, adopted in December 2025, recognises Christianophobia alongside Islamophobia and antisemitism.

These developments make it particularly important that Christianophobia is also reflected in public awareness campaigns and communications addressing religious hatred.

If Christianophobia is recognised within the United Nations system, it should not be overlooked in public messages promoting equality, religious freedom, and mutual respect.

2. A PERSONAL APPEAL FROM A REFUGEE AND HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDER

This issue is particularly meaningful to me because I am also a refugee in Sri Lanka and have personally experienced the challenges and concerns associated with refugee life and international protection.

Following the tragic Easter Sunday terrorist attacks in Sri Lanka in 2019, concerns about the safety and protection of religious minorities received international attention.

During meetings with concerned UNHCR officials in Colombo, we became aware of discussions about international resettlement opportunities for different religious communities.

As I understood from those discussions, particular resettlement opportunities or admission arrangements were available for Ahmadiyya Muslim refugees, while comparable dedicated arrangements for Christian refugees were not available.

There were also concerns among Christian refugees that many Christian asylum applications were unsuccessful and that their protection needs did not receive comparable attention.

I share this experience not to question or diminish the protection and support given to Ahmadiyya Muslims or any other persecuted community. Every person fleeing persecution deserves dignity, protection, and a fair opportunity to rebuild their life.

However, the suffering of Christian refugees must also be recognised and given appropriate international attention.

The protection of one persecuted religious community should never mean overlooking the suffering of another.

As a refugee and human rights defender, I strongly believe that international advocacy must recognise the persecution of Christians with the same seriousness, compassion, and commitment afforded to all other communities facing religious hatred and discrimination.

Our appeal is not for preferential treatment. It is an appeal for equality, fairness, dignity, and equal recognition.

3. OUR FIVE URGENT APPEALS TO UN GENEVA

In light of these concerns, I respectfully call upon UN Geneva and its communications team to:

1. Explicitly recognise Christianophobia

Include Christianophobia alongside antisemitism and Islamophobia in relevant public awareness campaigns addressing religious hatred and intolerance.

2. Ensure equal recognition of all religious communities

Give anti-Christian hatred, discrimination, and persecution appropriate visibility in international human rights messaging.

3. Raise awareness of Christian persecution

Give greater attention to Christians experiencing violence, threats, discrimination, attacks on churches, and restrictions on their freedom of religion or belief.

4. Promote inclusive and consistent messaging

Ensure that campaigns against religious hatred recognise all religious communities and leave no persecuted group behind.

5. Reflect the United Nations’ commitment in public communications

Review future social media publications and awareness campaigns to ensure that Christianophobia is appropriately acknowledged wherever religious hatred and intolerance are being addressed.

4. HUMAN RIGHTS MUST NOT HAVE DOUBLE STANDARDS

The United Nations represents the principles of equality, justice, dignity, and fundamental human rights.

These principles should be reflected not only in international resolutions and declarations but also in everyday public communications.

Recognising hatred against one religious community while overlooking hatred against another can create an impression that some communities receive greater visibility than others.

Our intention is not to compare suffering or compete over whose persecution deserves greater attention.

We stand against hatred directed at Muslims, Jews, Christians, and people of every other religious or belief community.

If we say NO to Islamophobia, we must also say NO to antisemitism and NO to Christianophobia.

Religious freedom is a universal human right. It must be protected equally for everyone, everywhere.

5. OUR MESSAGE TO UN GENEVA

I respectfully urge the UN Geneva Social Media Editorial and Communications Team to reconsider the wording of its public awareness campaigns and explicitly include Christianophobia in future messages addressing religious intolerance.

The voices of persecuted Christians must not remain unheard. Their suffering must not be forgotten, and their experiences must not be excluded from international human rights discussions.

The world needs a consistent message against all forms of religious hatred.

CHRISTIANOPHOBIA IS REAL. CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION IS REAL. THE WORLD MUST NOT IGNORE IT.

We call upon UN Geneva to demonstrate its commitment to equality and inclusiveness by giving appropriate recognition to anti-Christian hatred alongside other forms of religious intolerance.

I would welcome an official response to this appeal and hope that this concern will receive serious consideration.

NO DOUBLE STANDARDS. NO SELECTIVE SOLIDARITY. NO RELIGIOUS HATRED.

EQUAL DIGNITY. EQUAL RECOGNITION. EQUAL HUMAN RIGHTS FOR ALL.

Yours sincerely,

Sardar Mushtaq Gill

Human Rights Defender | Lawyer

Founder & International Advocacy Director

LEAD Ministries

Advocating for religious freedom, human dignity, justice, and the protection of persecuted Christians worldwide.

Reference: UN Geneva Facebook publication on Sunday 1st November 2026 at 2:30 PM

https://web.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1551610310335600&id=100064599373095&rdid=kWLpGGzyb3B1XrOF#