Following recurring incidents of Holy Quran burning in Nordic nations, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Monday expressed grave concern over the rise in Islamophobia.
Infamous folks, with their governments’ approval, have in the previous few weeks desecrated the holy e-book in Sweden and Denmark, inviting sturdy criticism from Muslim nations.
The 18th Extraordinary Assembly of the Council of Overseas Ministers (CFM) of the OIC adopted a complete decision expressing grave concern over growing incidents of intolerance, discrimination, and rising Islamophobia, a press release from the Overseas Workplace stated.
It reaffirmed the significance of the 8-point motion plan unanimously agreed upon by the UN Human Rights Council to counter incitement to hatred, discrimination, stigmatisation, and violence primarily based on faith and perception.
It additionally known as on all governments to totally implement the present authorized and administrative framework or undertake new laws to guard all people in opposition to hatred and violence primarily based on faith and perception.
FM Bilawal additionally attended the 18th extraordinary assembly held in a digital format.
Addressing the CFM, FM Bilawal condemned, within the strongest phrases, the Islamophobic and hateful acts of desecration of the Holy Quran, which manifested non secular hatred and intolerance.
He underscored that these acts, and the permission to hold them out, didn’t represent freedom of expression.
The overseas minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s dedication to work carefully with OIC member nations, particularly in Jeddah, Geneva, and New York to focus on considerations concerning the willful acts of the burning and desecration of the Holy Quran.
He welcomed the adoption of resolutions within the UN Human Rights Council and the UN Common Meeting advocating inter-religious dialogue and shunning non secular hatred.
He additionally known as for selling inter-faith concord and peaceable co-existence.
The overseas minister reiterated his proposal, made earlier this yr on the event of the Worldwide Day to Fight Islamophobia, for an motion plan which might inter alia embody the appointment of a UN Particular Envoy to fight Islamophobia and the institution of judicial mechanisms to carry the perpetrators accountable.
OIC’s ‘disappointment’
The OIC additionally voiced “disappointment” with the response by Sweden and Denmark to a spate of Quran burnings which have sparked outrage throughout the Center East.
Secretary-general Hissein Brahim Taha known as on each nations to stop Koran desecration and “expressed his disappointment that no measures have been taken on this regard to date”, the 57-member, Jeddah-based physique stated in a press release after the opening session of the assembly.
“It’s unlucky that the involved authorities claiming freedom of expression proceed to offer licences to repeat these acts opposite to worldwide legislation, and this results in a scarcity of respect for religions,” Taha stated in remarks throughout the assembly.
After the assembly ended, the OIC stated Taha would lead a delegation to the European Union to induce officers there “to take the mandatory measures to stop the recurrence of such legal acts below the pretext of freedom of expression”.
It additionally known as on UN Secretary-Common Antonio Guterres to nominate a particular rapporteur on combating Islamophobia.
Bilawal speaks to Danish counterpart
Individually, Bilawal additionally acquired a name from Danish Overseas Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen.
Whereas on name, the overseas minister raised deep concern concerning the latest incidents of desecration of the Holy Quran in Denmark and different European nations.
“Whereas acknowledging the Danish authorities’s outreach to the Muslim world and condemnation of those abhorrent acts,” he confused the necessity for stopping Islamophobic acts that harm the emotions of Muslims internationally.
Bilawal stated he additionally emphasised the necessity to promote interfaith concord and spiritual tolerance.