The top official for the U.N. Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC), Miguel Moratinos, has unequivocally condemned the “vile act” of burning pages of the holy Quran in front of a mosque in the center of Stockholm, Sweden, 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.”
The High Representative reiterated the importance of upholding the freedom of expression as a fundamental human right.
At the same time, he 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.”
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The High Representative also reiterated that mutual respect was essential for building and promoting just, inclusive, and peaceful societies rooted in human rights and dignity for all.
In this context, the High Representative recalled the United Nations Plan of Action to safeguard religious sites led by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, which provides an overarching framework and a set of recommendations including strengthening religious pluralism and promoting mutual respect and human dignity.
Salwan Momika, a 37-year-old Iraqi who fled to Sweden several years ago, tore up and lit pages of the Islamic holy book on fire on Thursday as Muslims celebrated the Eid al-Adha holiday.
After the burning, Swedish police charged the man who set fire to the Holy Quran with agitation against an ethnic or national group and with a violation of a ban on fires that has been in place in Stockholm since mid-June.
The act outside the Stockholm Central Mosque prompted international condemnation. Officials from a number of countries, including many in the Middle East, have condemned the desecration of the Quran by a man in Sweden’s capital during a protest authorised by police.
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Courtesy: APP with additional input by GVS