The top U.N. envoy in Afghanistan on Wednesday called on all parties there to respect the holy month of Ramadan, saying that “Islam is a religion of brotherhood, providing messages of peace, harmony, and cooperation.” Staffan de Mistura, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's special representative for Afghanistan, added that “followers are encouraged in this holy month to focus on and practice these values.” De Mistura noted that Muslims in Afghanistan “continue to face challenges towards peace due to conflict and suffering” and said the U.N. mission there “asks all parties to respect this month for the sake of stability, tranquility, peace, and the reconstruction of Afghanistan.”
