OIC calls for measures to prevent Quran desecration

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
2 Jul 2023 18:38

The Organization's Secretary General, Hissein Brahim Taha called the burning of the Quran "a despicable act," and added that it was necessary to send a message that desecrating the holy book is not "mere ordinary Islamophobia incidents."

Muslim protesters during a rally outside the Swedish embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia on Monday, January 30, 2023. (AP)

The Saudi-based Organization of Islamic Cooperation, a 57-member body, called for concerted action to prevent future Quran burnings on Sunday, only days after a copy was set ablaze outside a Stockholm mosque during Islamic holidays.

The organization met in Jeddah in response to an Iraqi citizen residing in Sweden, Salwan Momika, 37, trampling on the Islamic holy book and lighting some pages on fire.

It happened to coincide with the beginning of the Eid al-Adha celebration and the end of the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, inciting outrage throughout the Muslim world.

According to a statement issued following the "extraordinary" meeting on Sunday, the OIC asked member nations to "take unified and collective measures to prevent the recurrence of incidents of desecration of the" Quran.

The body's Secretary General, Hissein Brahim Taha called the burning of the Quran "a despicable act," and added that it was necessary to send a message that desecrating the holy book is not "mere ordinary Islamophobia incidents."

Taha added that "we must send constant reminders to the international community regarding the urgent application of international law, which clearly prohibits any advocacy of religious hatred."

Sweden's ambassadors have been called in protest by countries such as Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, and Morocco.

Swedish police had granted Momika permission in accordance with 'free speech rights', but officials then announced an inquiry into "agitation."

In January, authorities in Stockholm gave the green card to the leader of the far-right Danish political party Stram Kurs, right-wing extremist Rasmus Paludan, to burn a copy of the Holy Quran before the Turkish embassy in Stockholm, which prompted various countries to condemn this action.

Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström responded by saying the "Islamophobic provocations are appalling."

He clarified that his country had freedom of expression, "but it does not imply that the Swedish Government, or myself, support the opinions expressed."

The European Union condemned Saturday the Quran burning that took place in Sweden, urging for the avoidance of escalation and underlining that in the eyes of the bloc, the burning of any holy book is a "provocation". The condemnation came in a statement issued by the European External Action Service (EEAS).