22.11.2011 | 11:36 | simon INOU

New York City, November 10, 2011 – Barack Obama´s special representative to Muslim Communities, Mrs. Farah Pandith interviewed by simon INOU on the campaign 2011 hours against Hate, that has been launched in Vienna, Austria.

M-MEDIA: Could you please introduce yourself to our readers?

Farah Pandith: Sure. I am Farah Pandith the Special Representative to Muslim Communities for the U.S. Department of State. It is the first time in the American history that we have this position. It was created two weeks after President Obama gave his Speech in Cairo in June 2009.

What is your job all about?

My job is to engage the people to “people level” with young Muslims around the world with a strong focus on young people under the age of 30. Moving the idea forward and finding ways to dialogs and create new partnerships.

In Europe we are actually facing Islamophobia as a part of right wings extremist political parties. What can you do as the U.S. Representative about this issue?

We are witnessing increase of hate language around the world today . In Europe we are facing especially an increase of Anti-Semitism but also hearing about hatred against Muslims, Christians, Blacks… I came together with my colleague Hannah Rosenthal and we have launched the campaign 2011 Hours against Hate which is an effort to do something action-oriented because we have heard from the civil society that young people wants to build a future that is not based on hatred, but rather on social cohesion and mutual respect. This campaign has been launched at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna, Austria on February 17, and is being implemented worldwide.

In which countries has the idea been already implemented?

For example in Spain, Aserbaidjan, Lebanon, India, etc. The idea is the same. We are not going to tolerate Hatred. Rather we are going to support communities and societies that promote mutual respect.

Thanks

you are welcome…