UNITED NATIONS: Miguel Moratinos, the top official for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) has unequivocally condemned the burning pages of the holy Quran in front of a mosque in the center of Stockholm, Sweden as a “vile act”.
The incident occurred as Muslims were offering Eid al-Azha prayers. In a statement, Moratinos, the UNAOC’s High Representative, said that “such a ‘vile act’ is disrespectful to Muslims.”
He reiterated the importance of upholding the freedom of expression as a fundamental human right, but at the same time, the UNAOC’s High Representative stressed that the desecration of sacred books and places of worship as well as religious symbols was “unacceptable and can lead to incitement of violence.”
He also reiterated that mutual respect was essential for building and promoting just, inclusive, and peaceful societies rooted in human rights and dignity for all.
The High Representative recalled the United Nations Plan of Action to safeguard religious sites led by the UNAOC, which provides an overarching framework and a set of recommendations including strengthening religious pluralism and promoting mutual respect and human dignity. –APP
