ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday strongly condemned yet another “abhorrent” acts of desecration of the Holy Quran in the Netherlands and Denmark, calling it the manifestation of growing hatred and Islamophobia.
Foreign Office spokeswoman Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said in a statement that such hateful acts are racist, xenophobic, and Islamophobic. She said repeated occurrence of these acts calls into question the legal framework behind which the Islamophobes hide and spread hatred with impunity.
The spokeswoman said Pakistan believed that freedom of expression came with responsibilities.
“It is the responsibility of the international community and national governments at large to prevent such vile acts, which are perpetrated with the ulterior motive to incite and provoke religious hatred and violence,” the spokesperson added.
Pakistan condemns desecration of Holy Quran in Denmark
Pakistan strongly condemned the act of desecration of the Holy Quran in Denmark, calling it the manifestation of increasing hatred and Islamophobia.
“The recurrence of such vile and willful acts is a troubling manifestation of growing hatred, racism, and phobia against Muslims and their faith,” Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said.
She said the repeated occurrence of such deliberate acts called into question the efficacy of the legal framework behind which Islamophobes hide and incite hatred with impunity.
She said exercising the right to freedom of expression could not be used as a smokescreen to deliberately denigrate any religion’s Holy personalities or Scriptures.
The spokeswoman called on all states to develop legal deterrence to prevent and prosecute such acts, in line with the responsibilities and duties described in international human rights law.
“We also urge the international human rights machinery to speak out against such deliberate actions that constitute an incitement to hate, violence, and discrimination against Muslims solely because of their faith,” the Foreign Office spokeswoman remarked.
