Qur'an burning: OIC calls out Swedish permission, seeks global action against it

Jeddah: The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) expressed its strong objection to the Swedish government’s permission to burn the Qur'an as a protest in the name of freedom of speech and expression.

The executive committee of the OIC, which convened in Jeddah on Sunday, has decided to take measures to prevent Islamophobic expressions in public while discussing the severe consequences resulting from the recent desecration and burning of the Qur'an in front of the Central Mosque in Stockholm, Sweden, on the first day of Eid Al-Adha.

The act, committed by Salwan Momika, a refugee from Iraq, sparked outrage and condemnation across the Muslim and Arab world.

During the meeting, OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha emphasized the need for unity among member states and collective measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. Taha condemned the act, stating that it undermined mutual respect among people and global efforts to foster tolerance and moderation.

He stressed that desecrating the Qur'an and insulting the Prophet Muhammad should not be seen as ordinary incidents of Islamophobia but rather as grave offences against religious sanctities.

Saudi representative to the OIC, Saleh Hamad Al-Suhaibani, expressed hope that the emergency meeting would yield valuable outcomes to combat such despicable behaviours. He strongly condemned the repeated incidents in Sweden, dismissing the false pretext of freedom of opinion and expression as justification for such acts. Al-Suhaibani declared these actions unacceptable, as they promote hatred, exclusion, and racism, contrary to religious principles and global agreements advocating for peace and unity.

Several OIC member states, including Turkiye, Pakistan, Cameroon, and Gambia, joined forces in denouncing the incident and expressing their concerns. Mehmet Metin Eker, permanent representative of Turkiye to the OIC, criticized Sweden for not taking appropriate action against the perpetrators, hiding behind the guise of freedom of speech and expression.

Eker called for concrete steps to prevent the recurrence of such provocative acts and suggested organizing awareness-raising events at OIC headquarters and in countries with prevalent Islamophobic attacks.

Pakistan's permanent representative to the OIC, Syed Mohammed Fawad Sher, strongly condemned the cruel act committed during the sacred occasion of Eid Al-Adha. The government of Pakistan echoed the sentiment and voiced its disapproval.

The OIC's emergency meeting united member states in condemning the Qur'an burning incident and calling for global action against Islamophobia. The organization urged the international community to implement laws explicitly prohibiting the promotion of religious hatred. As the meeting concluded, OIC officials emphasized the importance of collaboration and awareness to effectively combat Islamophobia and preserve religious sanctities.