Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari of Pakistan denounced the desecration of the Holy Quran as incitement of religious hatred and urged global unity against intolerance in a speech at the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC). At Pakistan’s request, the council convened an urgent session to discuss instances of religious hatred incitement in Europe and other regions.
The Foreign Minister emphasized the distinction between free, indispensable, and hate speech, which he declared indefensible. He expressed concern over the recent Islamophobic incident in Sweden, condemning it as an attack on the Muslim faith and a clear provocation of religious hatred, discrimination, and violence.
Global Condemnation of Religious Hatred
Bilawal Bhutto highlighted the religious significance of the Holy Quran to Muslims worldwide and the profound distress caused by its public desecration. He proposed a motion for the UN rights chief to report on the topic and for states to review and update their laws to prevent religious hatred.
During the session, ministers from Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia joined the condemnation, with the Indonesian Foreign Minister urging against the misuse of freedom of expression. Western nations, including Germany, also criticized the Islamophobic act in Stockholm.
The UN Human Rights Chief, Volker Turk, condemned all inflammatory acts against Muslims and other religious or minority groups. While a vote on the issue is anticipated, diplomatic negotiations remain ongoing. With the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) comprising 19 of the 47-member body, and support expected from China and others, the motion is likely to pass.
