Afghanistan bans Sweden
KABUL/ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan has slapped a complete ban on Sweden’s activities in the country after the incident of the desecration of the Holy Quran.
The Taliban administration ordered Sweden to stop its activities in Afghanistan after the burning of the Quran outside a mosque in the Swedish capital last month.
A group photo to Afghan Taliban government leaders.
“After insulting the holy Quran and granting of permission for insulting of Muslim beliefs, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan stopping all activities of Sweden in Afghanistan,” said Zabiullah Mujahid. Mujahid is a spokesman for the Taliban administration.
Burning Quran
An Iraqi immigrant to Sweden burned a copy of the Quran after getting permission from police, outside a Stockholm mosque last month. It caused outrage in the Muslim world.
The Swedish Committee for Afghanistan did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Taliban order.
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto condemns the incident
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the Foreign Minister of Pakistan, condemned the desecration of the Holy Quran in Sweden by stating that it occurred with government approval while the UN rights body debated a contentious motion.
Recently, a migrant from Iraq to Sweden burned pages of the Holy Quran outside a mosque in Stockholm. It caused outrage in the Muslim world and received condemnation from Pope Francis.
Pakistan introduced a motion requesting a report from the UN rights chief on the matter. The country also urged the states to review their laws to address acts and advocacy of religious hatred.
The debate exposed divisions between the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and Western members in the UN Human Rights Council regarding the motion’s impact on free speech and established rights protection practices.
Bilawal, addressing an urgent debate on religious hatred, called for global unity against hatred, discrimination, and intolerance, promoting mutual respect, understanding, and tolerance.
He emphasized the need to condemn and isolate those inciting hatred, recognizing that such acts aim to propagate hate.
