KABUL (Pajhwok): The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has urged states to take unified and collective measures to prevent the recurrence of incidents of desecration of copies of the Holy Quran, according to a statement on Sunday.
The 57-member body met at its Jeddah headquarters to respond to Wednesday’s incident in which an Iraqi citizen living in Sweden, Salwan Momika, 37, desecrated the holy book and set several pages alight.
It coincided with the start of the Eid ul Adha holiday and the end of the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, sparking anger across the Muslim world.
The body’s secretary general, Hissein Brahim Taha, “stressed the need to send a clear message that acts of desecration” of the Holy Quran are “not mere ordinary Islamophobia incidents,” the statement from the OIC said.
“We must send constant reminders to the international community regarding the urgent application of international law, which clearly prohibits any advocacy of religious hatred.”
Taha condemned the Holy Quran burning incident as “a despicable act”, echoing widespread denunciations that have included demonstrations near the Swedish embassy in Iraq’s capital.
Countries including Iraq, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Morocco have summoned Swedish ambassadors in protest.
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