- Urges Swedish authorities to halt provocative actions
- demonstrators storm Swedish Embassy in Baghdad
RIYADH: Hissein Brahim Taha, the secretary-general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, has strongly condemned the scheduled burning of a copy of the Qur’an during a protest outside the Iraqi Embassy in Stockholm on Thursday, labeling it as an act of provocation.
Currently, Taha is in consultation with OIC member states regarding the final communique released by the organization’s executive committee on July 2. The communique emphasized that provocative actions, such as burning religious texts, go against the principles of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and cannot be justified by rights to freedom of expression or opinion. The ongoing consultations aim to explore possible measures to prevent such acts from happening.
Expressing deep disappointment, Taha highlighted the Swedish authorities’ continuance of granting permission for protests that might involve the desecration of religious symbols, including the revered Muslim holy book. He also pointed out that the UN Human Rights Council recently adopted a resolution on “countering religious hatred constituting incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence.”
Emphasizing the significance of upholding international law, Taha urged the Swedish authorities to cease granting permission for extremist groups and individuals to engage in such provocative and potentially hazardous activities. He called upon the nation’s government to take necessary actions to prevent any further escalation of the situation.
The protest in Stockholm, involving two individuals, proceeded as planned. However, CNN reported that it did not witness any Qur’an copies being burned; one copy was kicked and damaged. Earlier on the same day, demonstrators expressing anger about the planned Qur’an burning stormed the gates of the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad, setting fire to part of the building before dispersing following intervention by security forces.
