Blasphemy issue being taken to OIC: Ashrafi

PM’s special representative calls for UN law to protect sanctity of all religions

ISLAMABAD:

Special Representative of the Prime Minister on Religious Harmony, Maulana Tahir Ashrafi, has said the issue of blasphemous caricatures would be taken up at the forum of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

In a tweet on Monday, he said France had hurt the sentiments of Muslims in the month of Rabiul Awwal, adding that Prime Minister Imran Khan had already raised this issue at every forum. Ashrafi said that love for Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) was part of our faith.

Meanwhile, speaking at a joint press conference with several Christian, Hindu and Sikh leaders, Ashrafi said that it was unfortunate that Islamophobia was on the rise in the world, adding that Pakistan was taking this issue to the OIC.

He called for legislation by the United Nations against Islamophobia and to prevent blasphemy against all the religions. “We have contacts with all the Islamic countries and the international Islamic organisations, including the OIC, in this regard,” he added.

“Prime Minister Imran Khan has raised his voice in the OIC and the United Nations regarding the sanctity of the Holy Prophet (PBUH),” Ashrafi told reporters. “These issues cannot be stopped unless legislation is enacted globally. Pakistan is taking a resolution in the OIC,” he added.

Ashrafi emphasised that there should be peaceful protests against the blasphemy. “It is not appropriate to cause vandalism and damage our own country,” he said. He told reporters that interfaith harmony councils were being formed at the union council level.

At the press conference, the representatives of the minority communities also condemned the republication of blasphemous caricatures in the name of freedom of expression in France and the Islamophobic comments made by French President Emmanuel Macron.

“The Christian community in Pakistan condemns the statement of the French president. The Christian community will raise its voice against the French president’s move at every forum,” Bishop Azad Marshall told the press conference.

Separately, a conference under the auspices of National Commission for Interfaith Dialogue also condemned the blasphemous cartoons in France. “No world leader will be allowed to blaspheme against any prophet,” said Archbishop Sebastian Francis Shah. “No religion allows insult to other’s religion.”

Maulana Asim Makhdoom strongly condemned the incident that took place in France. “No community tolerates this desecration of the Holy Prophet (PBUH). The president of France has hurt the sentiments of billions of people.”

Speaking on the occasion, Sardar Bishan Singh said that such acts against the prophets, saints and Sufis could not be tolerated. Commenting on the blasphemous acts in France, he called it a conspiracy to undermine the world peace. “Such actions hurt not only Muslims but all religions,” Singh said.