OIC condemns sacrilegious film, cartoons

OIC expresses concern on the continuing instances of Islamophobic acts under the "prextext of freedom of expression."

WASHINGTON: The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)'s Foreign Ministers have adopted a resolution condeming the release of a trailer for the anti-Islam "Innocence of Muslims", as well as caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

According to a press release issued by Pakistan's Mission to the UN, the declaration, sponsored by Pakistan, was adopted at the Annual Coordination Meeting of the OIC Foreign Ministers in NY on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

The declaration dubbed the two acts as "sheer acts of incitement to hatred, discrimination and hostility towards Muslims, their peaceful religion Islam and the Holy Prophet (pbuh)."

The press release said that the OIC FMs expressed their concern on the continuing instances of Islamophobic acts under the "prextext of freedom of expression." The FMs said that this stood in violation of freedom of religion guaranteed by international human rights norms and standards, and that these acts have deeply offended Muslims around the world.

"The Foreign Minister of Pakistan welcomed the adoption of this Pakistan sponsored declaration by all OIC Foreign Ministers and conveyed the deeply hurt feelings of people of Pakistan on those blasphemous acts.”

She urged Member States to take all measures including implementation of necessary policies and legislations against these acts in line with their obligations under international human rights law," said the press release.

Khar also thanked the OIC for supporting the right of self-determination for the people of Kashmir, and highlighted Pakistan's position on peace and security in the world including on issues of Syria, Mali, Somalia and Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.

Khar also spoke about Pakistan's role as a front line state in the fight against terrorism.