Holy Quran desecrations don't constitute freedom of expression: Bilawal

In view of recurring incidents of desecration of the Holy Quran in Nordic countries, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has condemned rising incidents of Islamophobia and called for the protection of all individuals against hatred and violence based on religion and belief.

The 18th Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) was convened in virtual format on Monday to debate such incidents, which have hurt the sentiments of Muslims across the world. 

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari attended the meeting on behalf of Pakistan and he underscored that such acts and the permission to carry them out did not constitute freedom of expression. Instead, they manifest religious hatred and intolerance. 

He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to work closely with OIC member countries, especially in Jeddah, Geneva and New York to highlight concerns about willful acts of desecration of the Holy Quran. 

Read Church leaders condemn Quran desecration in Sweden 

Bilawal also welcomed the adoption of resolutions in the UN Human Rights Council (UNHCR) and the UN General Assembly (UNGA) advocating inter-religious dialogue and shunning religious hatred. 

The foreign minister called for the promotion of inter-faith harmony and peaceful co-existence. 

Bilawal also reiterated the proposal he made earlier this year on the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, which entails an Action Plan involving the appointment of a UN special envoy to combat Islamophobia and the establishment of judicial mechanisms to hold perpetrators accountable.

He later took to Twitter to share details of the meeting.

"Pakistan denounces all wanton acts of Islamophobia that cause distress and concern across the Muslim world. OIC carries the burden of responsibility to protect the dignity of Muslims. Pakistan has and will continue to partake in all OIC efforts to combat Islamophobia & project our collective concerns as resolutely as possible," he tweeted. 

The Extraordinary CFM adopted a comprehensive resolution expressing grave concern over increasing incidents of intolerance, discrimination and rising Islamophobia, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Office.

It reaffirmed the importance of the eight-point action plan unanimously agreed upon by the UNHRC to counter incitement to hatred, discrimination, stigmatisation and violence based on religion and belief.

Moreover, it called on all governments to fully implement the existing legal and administrative framework or adopt new legislation to protect all individuals against hatred and violence based on religion and belief.