JEDDAH: The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will hold an extraordinary virtual session for the Council of Foreign Ministers of Member States (CFM) on Monday, July 31, 2023, in response to the alarming incidents of desecration and burning of copies of al-Mushaf ash-Sharif in Sweden and Denmark.
The meeting was requested by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Chair of the 14th Islamic Summit, and the Republic of Iraq, as a necessary step to address the growing concerns of deliberate religious hatred and intolerance.
The urgent meeting of ministers comes after the OIC Executive Committee issued a final statement on July 2, 2023, condemning the burning of a copy of al-Mushaf ash-Sharif in Sweden and calling for high-level emergency meetings, as necessary. The escalating incidents of desecration have triggered widespread outrage among the Muslim community, prompting the need for immediate action and response.
OIC Active Engagement with Member States
OIC Secretary-General, Hissein Brahim Taha, has been actively engaging with the Member States to discuss the implementation of the final statement issued by the Executive Committee. The meeting on Monday aims to consider additional measures to address and counter the repeated provocative actions that disrespect al-Mushaf ash-Sharif, a sacred and revered religious text in Islam.
The OIC’s Extraordinary Meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers is set to deliberate on measures to combat religious intolerance and safeguard the sanctity of Islamic symbols and beliefs. The organization is taking decisive steps to protect the religious sensitivities of the Muslim community and promote interfaith harmony and respect.
