Senate Adopts Resolution Against Quran Sacrilege In Sweden, Netherlands

News Desk

Islamabad: A unanimous resolution was passed by the Senate on Friday to denounce the heinous violation of the Holy Quran in Sweden and the Netherlands, and sharply protested against the Swedish and Dutch governments for enabling the extreme groups to commit this horrible act under the guise of free speech.

The Senate termed this disgraceful incident of Islamophobia as hateful and contrary to the principles of international law laid down in several instruments, including United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution number 36/35 of 25th November 1981 which proclaims the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief, Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) and European Guidelines on Freedom of Religion or Belief which states that responsibility and freedom of expression go hand in hand and the latter should not incite hatred, shock or disturbance to any segment of society, the call of the World Conference on Human Rights upon all governments to take all appropriate measures to counter intolerance, United Nations General Assembly resolution 56/6 of 9th November 2001 on the Global Agenda for Dialogue among Civilizations, Resolution of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) 2005/40, and International Day to Combat Islamophobia.

The resolution declares that the Senate supports sustaining the universal values emphasised above, and expresses the state and people of Pakistan’s collective opposition to the act of desecration of the Holy Quran by racists and extremists.

It states that this heinous crime is an intentional and calculated attempt to undermine societal harmony, religious tolerance, and interfaith concord. It will ultimately prove to be detrimental to international peace and stability among nations, cultures, and civilizations.

The Senate calls on Muslims to keep composure, resist being intimidated by hateful Islamophobes, and spread the teachings of Islam, which emphasis tolerance, peace, and interfaith harmony.

Additionally, it demanded that the government take swift action by calling the ambassadors of Sweden and the Netherlands and conveying to them the deep feelings of outrage and astonishment that the Pakistani people have toward the desecration of the Holy Quran; and firm lawful action against those who desecrated the Holy Quran.

It also recommended that the government get in touch with, coordinate with, and work with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s members to adopt a common stance on this matter, which is essential to all Muslims’ core beliefs.

The Senate further requested that this crucial matter be discussed before the impending session of the UN Human Rights Council, which would be held in Geneva the following week.