UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres made the comment to reporters after talks with Saudi King Salman, Crown Prince and Interior Minister Mohammad bin Nayef, and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad 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 at a joint news conference with Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir.
“This is the best support that Daesh (ISIL) can have to make its own propaganda,” Guterres said, AFP reported.
Anti-immigration politicians including France’s Marine Le Pen have seen their popularity rise after an influx to Europe of migrants, many of them Muslims fleeing wars in Syria and elsewhere.
US President Donald Trump issued an order in late January that denied entry to all refugees for 120 days.
It also blocked travelers from seven Muslim nations for 90 days. Refugees from Syria were blocked indefinitely.