Saudi Arabia’s geopolitical analyst Salman Al-Ansari has said that the OIC will take action. If the Sweden government does not change its laws regarding hate speech.
Salman Al-Ansari, speaking on the Arab News programme “Frankly Speaking”. He said that “if the Sweden government does not change the laws. That allow extremists to spread hatred. then I will not be surprised by the unanimous decision of the OIC.”
Salman Al-Ansari’s analysis comes at a time when the OIC condemned in the strongest terms on Sunday the burning of the Quran. In front of the Iraqi Embassy in Copenhagen by the Sweden extremist group ‘Densk Patriot’.
He further said that we want the Sweden government to evaluate it reasonably. It would be better for them. Because you don’t want to spoil relations with 57 countries for the sake of a handful of hate-mongering extremists.”
Earlier, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) decided to suspend the status of Sweden’s special envoy to the organisation while strongly condemning the desecration of the Quran in Denmark.
The OIC General Secretariat said in a statement that this decision is in line with the recommendation of the emergency meeting of the OIC Working Committee in early July.
The Secretary-General was requested to take possible steps to review the relationship with the General Secretariat of any country that is committing desecration of the Quran, Islamic values, and sacred figures of Islam.
OIC Secretary General Hussain Ibrahim Taha has informed the Swedish Foreign Minister about this decision in a letter.
strongly condemned the burning of the Quran
In addition, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation has strongly condemned the burning of the Quran. By an extremist group outside the Iraqi Embassy in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark.
In a statement, OIC Secretary General Hussain Ibrahim Taha expressed outrage over the continuous incidents of violations of Islamic sanctities.
“Such actions incite religious hatred, intolerance, and discrimination,” he said.
“Such provocative acts are against the spirit of Articles 19 and 20 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. They cannot be justified under the pretext of freedom of expression or opinion.
“The right to freedom of expression and opinion carries with it obligations under international law that clearly prohibit incitement to religious hatred, intolerance, and discrimination,” said the OIC Secretary General.
He said that all countries should abide by the recent decision of the Human Rights Council under the United Nations regarding the prevention of religious hatred. Any act that incites religious discrimination, enmity, or violence comes under the ambit of religious hatred.
Hussain Ibrahim Taha
Hussain Ibrahim Taha urged the Danish government to take the necessary measures to stop such provocative actions.
He has also welcomed the actions of OIC member countries against repeated desecration of the Holy Quran.
“Member countries should take appropriate decisions and respond to the heinous activities under the guise of freedom of expression on the part of the Swedish authorities for issuing permits for the desecration of the Holy Quran and allowing the insulting of the holy figures of Islam.”
The Secretary General said that legislation is necessary to criminalise blasphemy. It should be kept in mind that freedom of expression is a responsible act.
He further said that desecration of the Holy Quran, insulting the glory of the Prophet of Islam, and insulting Islamic figures do not fall under the scope of mere Islamophobia. It is the responsibility of the international community to immediately implement international law that prohibits any act of incitement to religious hatred.
Dr. Muhammad Al-Eisa, the Secretary General of the Muslim Scholars Association and the head of the Majlis Ulama Al-Islami, also condemned the desecration of the Holy Quran and said that it is against all human and religious teachings and traditions.
It is also against the values of the international community. In which the serious dangers of such activities have been warned. In plain words, it and every act of Islamophobia have been rejected.
He said that activities that inflame religious sentiments and fan the flames of hatred should be avoided. It only benefits the agenda of extremism.
Dr. Muhammad Al-Eisa
Dr. Muhammad Al-Eisa said that “at a time when the whole world is trying to promote friendship between nations and countries. In such a world, these types of criminal activities are pushing backwards. Their goal is to get the pleasure of those who propagate hatred.”
The Head of the Arab Parliament, Adel Al Asoumi, said that such actions are irresponsible. They are threatening peaceful coexistence. This is a hateful act. There can be no justification for such heinous activities against Islam and the Holy Quran.
He called upon the international community to “take a firm stand to prevent such incidents in the future.”
