OIC seeks collective action
Reacting to the desecration of the Holy Quran in Sweden, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation suggested collective measures to discourage the recurrence of Islamophobic incidents in the future.
The OIC issued a joint statement after holding an extraordinary meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia today to denounce Wednesday’s incident in Sweden. The OIC is a platform comprising 57 Muslim countries.
The Organization said, “Some measures are needed to prevent acts of desecration of the holy book and international law should be used to stop religious hatred after the holy book was burned in a protest in Sweden.”
“We must send constant reminders to the international community regarding the urgent application of international law. It clearly prohibits any advocacy of religious hatred,” OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha said.
In Sweden, a man burned a copy of the Holy Quran on the first day of Eidul Azha. The incident took place outside Stockholm’s central mosque on Wednesday.
The incident annoyed OIC member Turkey whose backing Sweden needs to join the NATO military alliance.
The Swedish police first gave permission for the Quran burning and then charged the man with agitation against an ethnic or national group.
Many countries in the world, including the European Union, have condemned the incident.
In January this year, Turkey suspended talks with Sweden on its NATO application after a Danish politician burned a copy of the Quran near the Turkish embassy in Stockholm.
OIC and EU condemn the incident
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has called an urgent meeting of its executive committee to discuss the desecration of the holy Quran in Sweden.
The OIC takes the decision as the world condemns the desecration of the holy book of the Muslims in Sweden.
The OIC will hold its meeting at its headquarters in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The session will discuss the consequences of the burning of a copy of the Holy Quran.
According to a statement from the OIC, the committee will hold a consultation over the measures to be taken against the heinous act.
The organization of Muslim Umah said it will take a collective stand on the necessary measures against the incident.
European Union Condemns Quran Burning
The European Union also condemned the burning of a copy of the Holy Quran in Sweden.
In a statement, the EU said the desecration of the Holy Quran was an offensive act.
Meanwhile, the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs also voiced its concern against the burning of the Holy Quran in Sweden. Ministry, however, said that this act in no way supports the opinion of the European Union.
Burning the Holy Quran or any other holy book is offensive, disrespectful, and a clear act of provocation.
