JEDDAH: The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has called for measures to be taken to prevent repeated acts of desecration against the Holy Qur’an, following the burning of a copy of the holy book in Sweden on the first day of Eid Al-Adha.
The announcement was made during an emergency session held at the OIC’s headquarters in Jeddah, as reported by Saudi state TV al-Ekhbariya.
During the meeting, OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha emphasized the importance of reminding the international community about the urgent application of international law, which clearly prohibits the advocacy of religious hatred. The session was convened at the invitation of Saudi Arabia, the current chairman of the Islamic Summit and the OIC’s Executive Committee, in response to the incident.
The desecration of the Holy Qur’an by Salwan Momika, a refugee from Iraq, who set fire to its pages in front of Stockholm’s largest mosque, has sparked widespread outrage and condemnation in the Muslim and Arab world.
OIC Crucial Meeting to Discuss Measures
The OIC stated that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss measures against such despicable acts and to express a unified stance against the desecration of the Holy Qur’an. The organization warned of the seriousness of these acts, which undermine mutual respect and harmony among people and contradict international efforts to promote values of tolerance, moderation, and rejection of extremism.
The OIC urged the governments of the countries involved to take effective measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. It denounced the repetition of these despicable attacks and any attempts to desecrate the sanctity of the Holy Qur’an and other Islamic values, symbols, and sanctities.
Furthermore, the OIC reaffirmed the obligation of all states, under the UN Charter, to promote and encourage universal respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, regardless of race, sex, language, or religion. It stressed the importance of exercising freedom of expression with responsibility and in accordance with relevant international human rights laws. The organization highlighted the significance of promoting dialogue, understanding, and cooperation between religions, cultures, and civilizations for global peace and harmony.
