United Nations human rights chief Zeid Raad al-Hussein in a scathing attack on populist politicians, including United States Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump and Dutch leader Geert Wilders, said that they had similarities to the ideology espoused by the Islamic State group.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Peace, Justice and Security Foundation in The Hague, Hussein said that he was a Muslim whose role was "to defend and promote the human rights of each individual, everywhere", reports the Guardian.
"And I am angry too. Because of Mr Wilders's lies and half-truths, manipulations and peddling of fear," he said.
Hussein said that he worked as a peacekeeper in the Balkans for 20 years, adding the cruelty he witnessed during the conflict "flowed from this same factory of deceit, bigotry and ethnic nationalism".
In August, Wilders's Freedom party (PVV) launched its campaign platform ahead of March elections vowing to "close mosques, Islamic schools and ban the Qur'an" if elected.
The PVV also vowed to reverse the "Islamisation" of the Netherlands by closing borders, shutting asylum-seeker centres, banning immigrants from Muslim countries and stopping Muslim women wearing headscarves.
Zeid strongly criticised the PVV's proposals and said Wilders had much in common with Trump, who is known for his anti-Muslim rhetoric, Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban, the French National Front leader Marine Le Pen and the leading Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage.
Urging the people to speak out and "draw the line", he asked: "Are we going to continue to stand by and watch this banalisation of bigotry?"
Reacting to Zeid's speech, Wilders said the Jordanian prince was "an utter fool".
"Another good reason to get rid of the UN. Islam and freedom are incompatible whatever this Jordanian bureaucrat says," said Wilders.
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