ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto has said that the unfortunate incident of the desecration of the Holy Quran amounted to the incitement of religious hatred, as the UN Human Rights Council debated a motion in the wake of a recent incident of Holy Quran’s burning in Sweden.
Addresses a session of the UN Human Rights Council via a video link on Tuesday, the foreign minister said that in response to the incident, a motion was presented by Pakistan demanding a report from the UN rights chief on the topic and called on states to review their laws and minimize gaps that may “impede the prevention and prosecution of such acts and advocacy of religious hatred”.
He added that such kind of action results in a rift in the UN body between the West and Muslim states, with Western states concerned about its implications for free speech and challenges posed to long-held practices in human rights protection.
While referring to the incident of the Holy Quran’s desecration, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister said that “We must see this clearly for what it is: incitement to religious hatred, discrimination and attempts to provoke violence.”
The minister added that it was crucial to understand the deep hurt that a public and premeditated act of the Holy Quran’s desecration causes to the Muslim world, adding that it is an attack on the Muslim’s faith.
Bilawal Bhutto explained that the demand for accountability over acts of the Holy Quran’s desecration was “reasonable and important”.
Bilawal added that he was not losing sight of the fundamental right of free speech in making this demand.
Desecration of Holy books, Hate speech as Indefensible
“Free speech is as indispensable as hate speech should be indefensible. Our vigor to protect free speech must not lose sight of the imperative to reject hate speech,” he said.
Bilawal maintained that no Muslim country in the world would allow anyone the desecration of holy texts of other religions as such acts were unthinkable and forbidden in the religion Islam.
Bilawal remarks were backed by the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia Prince Faisal bin Farhan, who also condemned the Sweden incident.
Meanwhile, UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk told the 47-member council that inciting and inflammatory acts against Muslims, as well as other religions or minorities, were “offensive, irresponsible and wrong”. However, he further said that these were “complex areas” and required care to be taken in setting legal limits on free speech, which could be abused by those in power.
Last month, a man desecrated the Holy Quran in Stockholm the capital of Sweden. The incident received protest and strong condemnation from several Muslim states, including Pakistan, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, Iran, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the European Union, Pope Francis and the Swedish government, and others.
