The United Nations chief urged the world to embrace the values associated with the Islamic holy month while warning about rising anti-Muslim discrimination.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres released a video message marking the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, urging people around the world to reflect on what he described as the period’s message of compassion, tolerance, and solidarity.
In the recorded remarks, Guterres said the observance of Ramadan carries broader lessons about peace and unity during a time of global conflict and division.
“For Muslims around the world, the holy month of Ramadan is a sacred period of reflection and prayer,” Guterres said in the address. “Ramadan also represents a noble vision of hope and peace.”
The secretary-general delivered the message as he traveled to Turkey, where he planned to fast alongside members of the Muslim community as part of a tradition he says he observes annually to express solidarity.
The video also comes shortly after Guterres marked the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, when he spoke about discrimination targeting Muslims and called for greater global efforts to counter anti-Muslim prejudice.
Speaking during that observance, Guterres noted the global diversity of the Muslim population.
“The world’s two billion Muslims hail from all corners of the globe, reflecting the vast diversity of humanity itself,” he said in remarks delivered through the United Nations’ official media platform available here.
He also warned that hostility toward Muslims is increasing and urged governments and communities to address the issue.
“Islamophobia is real and growing,” Guterres said. “Let’s eradicate the scourge of Islamophobia from every country and community.”
In his Ramadan message, the secretary-general pointed to ongoing conflicts and humanitarian crises around the world, saying many people remain far from the ideals of peace associated with the religious observance.
“From Afghanistan to Yemen, from Gaza to Sudan and beyond, people are suffering the horrors of conflict, hunger, displacement, discrimination and more,” he said.
Guterres called on governments and communities to reflect on the values associated with Ramadan and apply them to global challenges.
“In these difficult and divided times, let us heed Ramadan’s enduring message,” he said. “To bridge divides. To deliver help and hope to those who are suffering. And to safeguard the rights and dignity of every person.”
The United Nations chief said he makes an annual visit to Muslim communities during Ramadan and participates in the fast, an experience he described as reinforcing the importance of compassion and generosity.
“Every year, I pay a special solidarity visit to a Muslim community and join in the fast,” he said. “And every year I come away heartened by Ramadan’s spirit of peace and compassion.”
He concluded his message by encouraging cooperation across societies to address humanitarian crises and promote stability.
“May this Holy Month inspire us to work as one to build a more peaceful, generous and just world for all people,” he said. “Ramadan Kareem.”
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and is widely regarded as the holiest period of the year in the Islamic faith. During the month, Muslims observe daily fasting from dawn until sunset and devote time to prayer, charitable giving, and spiritual reflection.
Traditional observances during Ramadan include abstaining from food, drink, smoking, and sexual relations during daylight hours, with meals typically taken before sunrise and after sunset as part of the religious practice.
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