JEDDAH: The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has decided to convene an emergency meeting next week to discuss the desecration of the Holy Quran in Sweden.
The meeting of the executive committee will be held in Jeddah to discuss the measures to be taken against the heinous act and to adopt a collective position on the necessary course of action.
The OIC condemned the recurrence of these despicable attacks and attempts to violate the sanctity of the Holy Quran outside the Stockholm Central Mosque in Sweden
In an earlier statement, the OIC General Secretariat condemned the incident, saying the “recurrence of these despicable attacks and attempts to violate the sanctity of the Holy Qur’an and other Islamic values, symbols and sanctities.”
It said such an act contradicted “international efforts to spread the values of tolerance, moderation, and renunciation of extremism.” It also reiterated its condemnation of such “reprehensible acts that some extremists deliberately commit” and urged relevant governments around the world to “take effective measures to prevent its recurrence”.
The OIC also emphasized the importance of adhering to the UN Charter in terms of promoting and encouraging respect for, and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all at the global level.
Several Muslim nations have condemned the latest incident by a man, who fled from Iraq to Sweden several years ago, outside Stockholm’s central mosque on Wednesday.
He has been charged by Swedish police with agitation against an ethnic or national group and a violation of a ban on fires that has been in place in Stockholm since mid-June.
The act has drawn strong criticism from several countries, including Pakistan, Turkiye, Jordan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Iraq and Iran. Pakistan has strongly condemned the “despicable act”, stressing that “such wilful incitement to discrimination, hated and violence cannot be justified under the pretext of freedom of expression and protest”.
UNOAC condemns incident
The top official for the UN Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), Miguel Moratinos, has unequivocally condemned the “vile act”. In a statement, the UNAOC’s High Representative, said that “such a ‘vile act’ is disrespectful to Muslims”. He reiterated the importance of upholding the freedom of expression as a fundamental human right.
At the same time, he stressed that the desecration of sacred books and places of worship as well as religious symbols was “unacceptable and can lead to incitement of violence.”
The high representative also reiterated that mutual respect was essential for building and promoting just, inclusive, and peaceful societies rooted in human rights and dignity for all.
In this context, the UNAOC official recalled the United Nations Plan of Action to safeguard religious sites led by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, which provides an overarching framework and a set of recommendations including strengthening religious pluralism and promoting mutual respect and human dignity.
