UNGA adopts resolution deploring violence against holy books
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The UN General Assembly's new resolution refers to any acts of violence and desecration against religious symbols, holy books, and places of worship as a violation of international law.
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A demonstrator holds a copy of the Quran during a rally in Iraq's central shrine city of Kufa after Friday prayers denouncing the holy book's burning in Sweden on July 21, 2023 (AFP)
The United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution on Tuesday condemning any acts of violence against sacred texts as a breach of international law.
The resolution comes following a string of Quran burnings in European countries, including Sweden, which was permitted by authorities and drew international condemnation.
According to Muslim leaders and lawmakers, desecrations are not protected by free expression legislation.
The proposal, brought forward by Morocco, was unanimously accepted by the 193-member General Assembly.
It deplored ''all acts of violence against persons on the basis of their religion or belief, as well as any such acts directed against their religious symbols, holy books, homes, businesses, properties, schools, cultural centers or places of worship, as well as all attacks on and in religious places, sites and shrines in violation of international law.''
Read more: Iraq cuts ties with Sweden, expels ambassador over Quran burning
Western nations had voted against a UN Human Rights Council to condemn the acts of burning the Quran on July 12, whjich had refered to the designated attacks as "Acts of religious hatred."
The Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned on Monday the repeated burning of the Holy Quran outside the Iraqi embassy in Denmark.
Earlier on Monday, two people burned a copy of the Holy Quran outside the Iraqi embassy in the Danish capital, Copenhagen.
This comes a couple of days after a Danish far-right anti-Islam group burned a copy of the Quran and an Iraqi flag outside Iraq's embassy in Copenhagen, after which the Danish Foreign Ministry condemned the act, describing it as a provocation that would espouse sedition between religious and cultural groups.
