UNGA condemns attacks on religious places, books

Adopts Pakistan co-sponsored resolution against intolerant acts

UNITED NATIONS:

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Tuesday unanimously adopted a resolution calling for countering hate speech, and strongly deploring attacks against places of worship, religious symbols and holy books.

The Moroccan resolution, entitled: ‘Promoting interreligious and intercultural dialogue and tolerance in countering hate speech,’ was co-sponsored by Pakistan and won the approval in the 193-member assembly amid growing acts of desecration of the holy Quran.

Diplomats said that Pakistan led the efforts, along with Malaysia and Egypt, to work toward the resolution aimed at upholding the sanctity of religious sites, symbols and holy books.

The paragraph reads: “Strongly deploring all acts of violence against persons on the basis of their religion or belief, as well as any such acts directed against their religious symbols, holy books, homes, businesses, properties, schools, cultural centres or places of worship, as well as all attacks on and in religious places, sites and shrines in violation of international law,”

Speaking on behalf of the European Union, Spain admitted such acts to be disrespectful but submitted an amendment asking for the words “in violation of international law” to be deleted. But the amendment to change the phrasing was defeated.

Pakistan’s delegate Bilal Chaudhry said the text resonated with the resolution on religious hatred, presented by Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), recently adopted at the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

“Islamophobia is on the rise,” the Pakistani delegate said referring to the desecration of the Holy Quran. These acts are not just a provocation to the feelings of more than two billion Muslims in the world, but a step to sabotage interfaith harmony and peace, he added.

Finally, he said that the text does not seek to curtail the right to free speech,” but it tries to underline the “special duties and responsibilities” of the international community to safeguard interfaith peace and harmony.” APP