UNITED NATIONS: Islamophobia in parts of the world is fuelling terrorism as anti-immigrant sentiment rises in some countries, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres observed during a visit to Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

A UN press release issued here said the UN chief made the comment to reporters after talks with Saudi King Salman, Crown Prince and Interior Minister Mohammed bin Nayef and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

“One of the things that fuel terrorism is the expression in some parts of the world of Islamophobic feelings and Islamophobic policies and Islamophobic hate speeches,” Guterres said.

“This is sometimes the best support that Daesh can have to make its own propaganda,” Guterres said, using an Arabic acronym for the militant Islamic State (IS) group.

US President Donald Trump issued an order in late January that denied entry to all refugees for 120 days.

It also blocked travellers from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days. Refugees from Syria were blocked indefinitely.

But the order has faced obstacles and on Thursday an appellate court decided unanimously to maintain a block on Trump’s order.

Guterres said: “We will never be successful in fighting terrorism in Syria if an inclusive political solution is not found for the Syrian people”, the press statement said.Guterres arrived in Saudi Arabia from Turkey and is to be in Dubai on Monday for the World Government Summit during his regional tour.

AFP adds: Mr Guterres on Monday said he “deeply” regretted opposition to former Palestinian prime minister Salam Fayyad as the organisation’s peace envoy to Libya, days after Washington vetoed the appointment.

“I deeply regret this opposition and I do not see any reason for it,” Guterres said at the annual World Government Summit hosted by Dubai.

Guterres described Fayyad, a former World Bank official with a track record of fighting corruption, as “the right person for the right job at the right moment”.

It’s a loss for the Libyan peace process and the Libyan people,” he said, adding that the United Nations “needs to be able to act with impartiality”.

The UN leader on Wednesday had informed the Security Council of his intention to appoint Fayyad as a replacement for German Martin Kobler to conflict-torn Libya.

But US ambassador Nikki Haley vetoed the appointment, saying Washington did not support the message the move would send.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the US veto of Fayyad as counter to the “free gifts constantly given to the Palestinian side”.

Israeli media has meanwhile reported that the Jewish state could accept Fayyad’s appointment if Tzipi Livni, a former Israeli foreign minister, were offered the position of UN deputy secretary general.

The head of the United Nations requires the unanimous support of all 15 Security Council members for appointments of special representatives to conflict areas.

Libya has been in turmoil since a 2011 revolution overthrew and killed longtime dictator Moamer Qadhafi.

Guterres also addressed the upcoming UN-sponsored peace talks on Syria, scheduled for February 20 in Geneva.

“There is no solution for the Syrian people without a comprehensive solution in which all Syrians feel they are properly represented,” he said.

Published in Dawn February 14th, 2017