The Senate criticizes desecration in Sweden, the Netherlands – Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Friday unanimously passed a resolution expressing its deepest dismay and shock over the heinous and heinous act of burning, tearing and desecrating the Holy Quran in Sweden and the Netherlands.
Rules were suspended to allow lawmakers to debate the issue and pass a resolution to condemn the desecration of the Holy Quran in the two European countries.
The resolution, moved by Senator Mushtaq Ahmed of Jamaat-i-Islami, said the upper house strongly protests against the governments of Sweden and the Netherlands for allowing extremists and fanatics to burn the Holy Quran in the name of freedom of expression.
The pretext of freedom of expression could not be used to attack the religious feelings and sentiments of 1.5 billion Muslims in the world, the resolution said.
Describing these Islamophobic acts as hateful, vicious, highly explosive and contrary to the principles of international law, the resolution expressed the collective will of the state and people of Pakistan against the act of desecrating the Holy Quran by racists and extremists, saying that this evil crime was a calculated and deliberate attempt to harm inter-religious harmony, social peace and religious tolerance.
The resolution said such actions would ultimately prove harmful and divisive to peace and stability among countries, cultures and civilizations.
The resolution called on the world’s Muslims to maintain their calm and tranquility and to promote Islam’s message of peace, tolerance and universal brotherhood.
The resolution called on the government to summon the ambassadors of Sweden and the Netherlands and convey the strong feelings, shock and anger of the people of Pakistan against these heinous acts.
It said Sweden and the Netherlands must be urged to take firm legal action against those who had desecrated the Holy Quran.
The resolution asked the government to coordinate with the member countries of the OIC to take a unified stand on this important issue that was central to the beliefs of all Muslims in the world.
It said Pakistan should raise this issue at the upcoming UN Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva next week.
Earlier, while participating in the debate, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar condemned the desecration of the Holy Quran in two European countries and assured the House that the issue was being raised at all appropriate forums.
He informed the House that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had given him special instructions to tell the Senate that the government is fully living up to its international and diplomatic responsibilities. The minister said that Islamophobic incidents in European countries were a major problem.
Mr Tarar said the government would take up the issue seriously at appropriate forums, including the UN, OIC and the European Union and “we will register our strong protest in a responsible manner”.
Former Prime Minister and PPP Senator Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani said protests are taking place in different parts of the world because the heinous crime committed in the two European countries had hurt the sentiments of all Muslims in the world.
Senator Ahmad took the floor and said that those who had committed the act of desecrating the Holy Quran were terrorists who wanted to push the world towards World War III.
He urged to lodge the strong protest with ambassadors in Sweden and the Netherlands to convey the sentiments of all Muslims about these shameful acts.
Speaking, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif held the West responsible for increasing acts of terrorism and extremism, noting that such actions provoke reactions from Muslims around the world.
The defense minister said that Islamophobia in Western countries was the main cause of extremism in Muslim countries.
He called on Western countries to stop Islamophobic incidents, saying their double standards on human rights and freedom of expression now pose a threat to world peace.
He said that the Muslim countries should jointly express their indignation over such heinous acts.
Published in Dawn, January 28, 2023