JEDDAH: The Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Hissein Brahim Taha, has strongly condemned the burning of a copy of the Holy Quran by an extremist group in front of the Iraqi Embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark. He expressed grave concern over the repeated instances of disrespect towards Islamic sanctities, warning against the dangerous implications of such actions.
Referring to the Final Communique issued by the OIC Executive Committee during its extraordinary meeting on July 02, 2023, Taha emphasized that these provocative acts were in direct contradiction to the principles laid out in Articles 19 and 20 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. He stressed that freedom of expression and opinion, while protected, must not be used to incite religious hatred, intolerance, or discrimination, in accordance with international law.
Taha also highlighted the recent resolution adopted by the UN Human Rights Council, focused on combating religious hatred that incites discrimination, hostility, or violence.
Calling on the Danish government to take immediate and necessary measures to prevent the recurrence of such offensive acts, Taha urged vigilance in order to avoid potential repercussions.
OIC Condemns Israeli Atrocities in Palestine
In a separate statement, the General Secretariat of the OIC also strongly condemned the ongoing atrocities committed by Israel, the occupying power, against the Palestinian people. The organization expressed deep sorrow over the recent heinous executions of Fawzi Muftala in the town of Sebastia near Nablus and Muhammad al-Bayed in the town of Um Safa near Ramallah. These incidents are seen as part of a series of grave violations and crimes perpetrated by Israel that demand thorough investigation and accountability.
Once again, the OIC called upon the international community to fulfill its responsibilities and take decisive action to halt the daily crimes and state-sponsored terrorism being inflicted upon the Palestinian population by Israel.
The OIC remains committed to upholding the values of peace, religious tolerance, and respect for sanctities, and will continue to advocate for justice and accountability in cases of transgression and violence against Islamic sanctities as well as the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
