The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has expressed grave concern over the desecration of the Holy Quran in Sweden and Denmark. During the 18th Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM), the OIC adopted a comprehensive resolution addressing the increasing incidents of intolerance, discrimination, and rising Islamophobia. It reaffirmed the importance of an 8-point action plan agreed upon by the UN Human Rights Council to counter incitement to hatred and violence based on religion and belief.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, attended the virtual meeting and condemned the Islamophobic acts of desecration, emphasizing that they do not constitute freedom of expression. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to work closely with OIC member countries to highlight concerns about the desecration of the Holy Quran. Bilawal also proposed an action plan, including the appointment of a UN Special Envoy to combat Islamophobia and establishing judicial mechanisms to hold perpetrators accountable.
The OIC expressed disappointment with Sweden and Denmark’s response to the Quran burnings and called on both countries to prevent such desecrations. The Secretary-General of OIC, Hissein Brahim Taha, will lead a delegation to the European Union to urge officials there to take necessary measures against such acts under the pretext of freedom of expression.
Additionally, Bilawal Bhutto received a call from Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, during which he raised deep concern about the recent incidents of Quran desecration in Denmark and other European countries. While acknowledging Denmark’s condemnation of these acts, Bilawal stressed the need to stop Islamophobic actions that hurt the sentiments of Muslims worldwide.