Jeddah, 30th June 2023: The Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) joins the entire international community, especially the Muslim World, through decisions and recommendations issued by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and its executive committee, in condemning the vilest and provocative act of burning and desecrating the Noble Quran outside a mosque in Sweden on the occasion of the Eid al-Adha of the year 1444 H -2023, one of the holiest days in Islam.
In this regard, the despicable act has not only deeply inflamed the sentiments of Muslims worldwide but also goes against the principles of religious tolerance, freedom, and respect for all individuals’ beliefs. This unfortunate incident has once again reminded the international community of the importance of criminalizing such hateful and sinful acts, which are repeated to provoke Muslims’ sensitive religious sentiments and disrupt social cohesion, peace, and security.
Indeed, although many international instruments have provided for provisions relating to freedom of opinion and expression and guaranteed freedom of thought and belief as inalienable and inadvisable rights, it should be noted that these rights are not absolute ones and are subject to considerations defined under international human rights law, ” which are namely meant to create a state of balance between rights, Freedom of opinion, expression, and thought, which in no circumstances shall give way to violate human dignity, spreading hatred and racism among peoples, thus abusing their religious beliefs or symbols.
This is supported by Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and Articles 19 & 20 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which clearly stipulate that this is not an ‘absolute’ right, rather its exercise is subject to ‘special duties and corresponding responsibilities’ based on ‘avoidance of harm to others’ to ensure social cohesion, including the State’s duty to prohibit, by law, “any advocacy for national, racial or religious hatred, that constitutes an incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence.”
Within this context, the Commission noted that desecrating the Noble Quran and sacred religious symbols is a manifest form of incitement to hatred, discrimination, and violence, which is punishable under international human rights law. Therefore, the Commission also emphasized the importance of promoting understanding among various civilizations, dialogue, and respect for different religions, cultures, and societies.
The Commission, while urging Muslims to exercise restraint and exhaust available domestic and international legal remedies to counter hate speech, and express a unified position against the desecration of the noble Quran, calls upon all the States to take appropriate steps required for full and effective implementation of the Action Plan of universally approved UN Human Rights Council Resolution 16/18, to combat religious intolerance and build consensus on the threshold of freedom of expression, where it converts into incitement to hatred, discrimination, or violence, thus requiring its criminalization, as provided for by Article 20 of the ICCPR.
The Commission also urged the media to promote respect for diversity and religious sensitivities of different segments of society, which is vital for building inclusive, peaceful, and pluralistic societies.
