Desecration of Holy Quran Condemns By UN Rights Council

The Holy Quran Condemns By UN Council

On Wednesday, the UN Human Rights Council voted to denounce recent instances of the Holy Quran being desecrated a decision that represents a significant loss for Western nations at a time when the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) wields unparalleled influence within the UN's top rights body.

The resolution, put out by Pakistan on behalf of the 57-nation OIC, demands that governments evaluate their legal frameworks and closes any legal loopholes that can "impede the prevention and prosecution of acts and advocacy of religious hatred." It also calls for the UN rights chief to produce a report on religious hatred.

Following the burning of Holy Quran pages outside Stockholm's main mosque last month by an Iraqi refugee living in Sweden, Pakistan and other OIC nations initiated a discussion and resolution. A diplomatic backlash over the incident spread throughout the Muslim world.

The OIC resolution to combat religious hate was supported by the UN's council, the only body made up of states that works to promote human rights throughout the world, with 28 votes in favor, 12 votes against, and 7 abstentions.

US, UK, and EU opposition to a resolution proposed by Pakistan

Those who opposed the resolution included Costa Rica, Montenegro, the US, France, Germany, and other members of the European Union.

"Poor courage"

Khalil Hashmi, Pakistan's permanent representative to the UN in Geneva said the resolution was not intended to restrict free expression but rather to strike a careful balance.

He stated, "Unfortunately, some states have chosen to abdicate their responsibility to prevent and counter the scourge of religious hatred," speaking on behalf of the OIC.

"Billions of religious people all over the world have received the message that their commitment to preventing religious hate is only lip service.

"A few people in the room are opposed because they won't speak out against the public trashing of the Holy Quran.

"They are lacking in political, legal, and moral courage"

The resolution's language emphasizes the need to hold individuals accountable and denounces any displays of religious intolerance, including "public and premeditated acts of desecration of the Holy Quran".

It calls on states to pass legislation to "address, prevent and prosecute acts and advocacy of religious hatred that constitute incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence".

In light of the resolution, it also requests that Volker Turk, the UN representative for human rights, examine any legal gaps in various nations.

“Islamophobia is a worry for China”

The resolution had the support of Argentina, China, Cuba, India, South Africa, Ukraine, and Vietnam.

Islamophobia has increased. Desecrating the Holy Quran incidents have often occurred in several nations, according to Chen Xu, China's envoy.

These nations have not taken any action to honor their declarations of support for the protection of religious freedom.

“Full retreat' by the West”

The resolution, according to the United States and the European Union, is at odds with how they regard human rights and the right to free speech. They criticized the Holy Quran being desecrated but asserted that the OIC initiative was designed to protect religious icons rather than human rights.

Americas and European nations both felt that a stronger, more unanimity decision might have been reached with a little more effort.

According to US Ambassador Michele Taylor, a consensus could have been reached with more time and discussion.

Sadly, she said, "Our worries were not taken seriously. The decision, according to Marc Limon, director of the Universal Rights Group in Geneva, demonstrated "the West is in full retreat at the Human Rights Council." "They are losing support steadily."

“Abstentions”

Among the nations that didn't vote were Paraguay, Benin, Chile, Mexico, and Nepal.

Francisca Mendez Escobar, Mexico's ambassador, stated: "Not all criticism of religion amounts in and of itself to an incitement to discrimination, hostility, or violence."

It was "clearly possible" to pass a resolution that all nations could support, according to the ambassador of Paraguay, Marcelo Scappini Ricciardi. It does not reflect well on us, he continued, "If we cannot agree on such a crucial subject."