Quran burning: UN approves resolution on religious hatred

KABUL (Pajhwok):  The United Nations Human Rights Council on Wednesday approved a disputed resolution on religious hatred in the wake of desecration of the Holy Quran in Sweden.

Last month, a man desecrated the Holy Quran in Sweden’s capital Stockholm, resulting in strong condemnation from several Muslim states, including Afghanstan, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the European Union, Pope Francis and the Swedish government, among others.

The resolution, introduced by Pakistan on behalf of the 57-nation OIC, calls for the UN rights chief to publish a report on religious hatred and for states to review their laws and plug gaps that may “impede the prevention and prosecution of acts and advocacy of religious hatred”.

It was strongly opposed by the United States and the European Union, who say it conflicts with their view on human rights and freedom of expression.

While condemning the desecration of the Holy Quran, they argued the OIC initiative was designed to safeguard religious symbols rather than human rights.

The vote’s outcome marks a major defeat for Western countries at a time when the OIC has unprecedented clout in the council, the only body made up of governments to protect human rights worldwide.

Twenty-eight countries voted in favour, 12 voted against, and seven countries abstained. Representatives of some countries clapped after the resolution passed.

Marc Limon, director of the Geneva-based Universal Rights Group, said the outcome showed “the West is in full retreat at the Human Rights Council”.

Earlier, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has criticized and condemned “spreading hatred all over the world”.

United Nations High Commissioner Volker Türk said in the meeting: “It seems that these events were created to provoke anger and create division in societies.”

He added: “The recent Quran burring seems to have happened to express contempt and provoke anger, division between people, to provoke and turn the difference of views into hatred and maybe violence.”

He emphasized that hate speech should be combated through dialogue, education, awareness raising and interaction between religions.

A Swedish man set alight a copy of the Quran in front of a Stockholm mosque on the first day of Eid-ul-Adha, according to media reports.

Zabihullah Mujahid tweeted: “After the Quran burning incident in Sweden, the Islamic Emirate has stopped all activity by Sweden in Afghanistan until that nation apologises to Muslims for the evil act. All bodies of the Islamic Emirate are obliged to comply with the instruction.”

sa/ma