ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has demanded that Sweden clarify and explain its position on the desecration of the Holy Quran, adding that Pakistan always respected freedom of speech but would not tolerate any kind of malicious propaganda against Muslims.
The prime minister said this in his speech during a joint session of the Parliament being convened to register a protest over the incident. A resolution condemning the desecration would also be adopted during the session.
The incident took place last week when a man, who fled from Iraq to Sweden a few years before, tore up and burned a copy of the Holy Quran outside the central mosque in Stockholm.
The act received strong criticism from several countries, including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Iraq, Iran, Jordan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Morocco, and Palestine as well as the European Union.
During the joint session, which was attended by members of parliament from the treasury and opposition benches, the prime minister condemned the incident, adding that despite Muslims across the world believe in tolerance and religious harmony, the recent act created angriness and fury among Muslims across the world.
Addressing the Speaker, Shehbaz Sharif said that members of the parliament have gathered here to condemn the desecration of the Holy Quran in the strongest of words, suggest measures to prevent such incidents in the future and pass a resolution on it. He also requested the speaker to constitute a committee that delivers its voice on different forums across the world and to come up with recommendations to prevent such incidents in the future.
Holy Quran Teaches Peace, Patience and Respect
Shehbaz Sharif said the Holy Quran taught the philosophy of love, respect and patience to the entire world, adding that several messengers, including Jesus were mentioned in the holy book and being Muslim, we respect all messengers and their religions.
“Never has anyone heard or seen here that the Bible was desecrated or burnt. We respect all these religions so that no one raises a finger at our religion or book, he said”
The PM claimed that such events were a part of “a conspiracy to create rifts between Muslims and Christians, adding that the incident took place in Sweden on Eid lamenting that no one ever thought that the police would let something like this happen in their custody and security. “We need to tell the world that this won’t be tolerated,” he asserted.
The prime minister also called on the masses, including supporters of political and religious parties, to take to the streets on Friday (July 7) and register their protest against the incident and “give a message to the world”.
Earlier, while taking to his Twitter handle, the Prime Minister called upon the world community and the global peace institutions to play a positive role in containing the incidents of Islamophobia.
He mentioned that the incident of the desecration of the Holy Quran in Sweden and anywhere else in the world, was unacceptable for Muslims.
پارلیمنٹ کا مشترکہ اجلاس آج قوم کے احساسات اور جذبات کی بھرپور ترجمانی کرتے ہوئے قرآن کریم کے تقدس کے لئے اپنے پختہ عزم کا اظہار کرے گا اور سویڈن سمیت پوری دنیا پر زور دے گا کہ اسلام سمیت تمام مذاہب، مقدس ہستیوں اور عقائد کا احترام کیاجائے۔ ناموس قرآن ہمارے ایمان کا حصہ ہے ۔سویڈن… pic.twitter.com/EhQqomJ23m
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) July 6, 2023
He said the incident hurt the sentiments of Muslims across the world and stressed that giving space to evil-minded elements would be an open threat to global peace.
