Swedish Govt Strongly Condemns Public Desecration of Holy Quran on Eid ul Adha

• Swedish government condemns public desecration of Holy Quran as Islamophobic act during Eid ul Adha.
• UNAOC strongly condemns desecration, emphasizes mutual respect and prevention of violence.
• Pakistan condemns burning of Holy Quran, calls for concrete measures against Islamophobia.

Swedish Government Strongly Condemns Public Desecration of Holy Quran on Eid ul Adha

The Swedish government has expressed strong condemnation of a “despicable act” involving the public desecration of a copy of the Holy Quran on the occasion of Eid ul Adha. The act, committed by individuals in the country, has been labeled as Islamophobic.

Reacting to this incident, Sweden’s ministry of foreign affairs released a statement emphasizing that the act does not reflect the opinions of the Swedish government. The government firmly stands against such actions that promote hatred and disrespect towards religious beliefs.

The incident took place when a man tore up and burned a copy of the holy book outside Stockholm’s central mosque on Wednesday. The man has been charged by the police with agitation against an ethnic or national group, highlighting the seriousness of the offense.

Offensive Demonstrations Spark Concern in the Muslim World

The demonstrations against Islam that have been taking place in Sweden have sparked offense and concern in the Muslim world. Turkey’s foreign minister, in particular, expressed his disapproval, stating that it is unacceptable to allow anti-Islam protests under the guise of freedom of expression.

UNAOC Condemns Desecration of Holy Quran

The UN Alliance of Civilisations (UNAOC) has unequivocally condemned the despicable act of burning pages of the Holy Quran in front of a mosque in Stockholm during Eid ul Adha prayers. The High Representative of UNAOC, Miguel Moratinos, called the act vile and disrespectful towards Muslims.

While upholding the freedom of expression as a fundamental human right, Moratinos emphasized that desecrating sacred books, places of worship, and religious symbols is unacceptable and can incite violence. He stressed the importance of mutual respect for building inclusive and peaceful societies based on human rights and dignity.

United Nations Plan of Action for Religious Sites

In response to such incidents, the UNAOC recalled the United Nations Plan of Action to safeguard religious sites. This plan aims to strengthen religious pluralism, promote mutual respect, and protect human dignity. It provides recommendations for preventing the desecration of religious sites and symbols, fostering harmony among different faiths.

Pakistan Strongly Condemns Public Burning of Holy Quran in Sweden

Pakistan has strongly condemned the despicable act of burning a copy of the Holy Quran in Sweden on the occasion of Eid ul Adha. The Foreign Office issued a statement denouncing the incident, stating that such acts of incitement to discrimination, hatred, and violence cannot be justified under the pretext of freedom of expression.

The statement highlighted the obligation of international law to prevent and prohibit advocacy of religious hatred leading to violence. Pakistan raised concerns about the recurrence of Islamophobic incidents in the West and questioned the legal framework that allows such hate-driven actions.

Furthermore, Pakistan reaffirmed that freedom of expression and opinion should not be misused to fuel hatred or disrupt interfaith harmony. The country called on the international community and national governments to take credible and concrete measures to counter xenophobia, Islamophobia, and anti-Muslim hatred.

Published in PakWeb, July 02, 2023.

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