OIC expresses concern over rising hate crimes after another ‘blasphemy’ lynching in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Hissein Brahim Taha, has expressed “concern” over rising intolerance and incidents of faith-based violence during an address at the inaugural segment of the 8th Meeting of The Istanbul Process held virtually this week.
The meeting, hosted by Pakistan, witnessed broad participation of states from all regions, relevant UN officials and experts, religious leaders, civil society, business representatives and journalists.
Taha’s comments about rising hate crimes came as an enraged mob stoned to death a middle-aged man for allegedly desecrating the Holy Quran inside a mosque in a remote village in eastern Pakistan last week.
The latest killing comes just months after a mob of factory employees tortured and burned a Sri Lankan manager in Sialkot in December over apparent blasphemy in a “horrific” attack that Prime Minister Imran Khan said had brought shame on the country.
“Taha expressed OIC’s concern over the continued rise of hatred, intolerance, discrimination and violence practiced on the basis of faith,” the OIC said in a statement, quoting the secretary general. “He mentioned that the phenomenon is a threat to humanity as it jeopardizes peace and security in the world, in recalling the terrorist incidents that occurred in 2019 in New Zealand and Sri Lanka.”
“The OIC Secretary General underlined the crucial importance of collective efforts at international level to reverse such a tendency and to prevent atrocities from reoccurring, by using all available means and tools,” the statement added.

OIC expresses concern over rising hate crimes after another ‘blasphemy’ lynching in Pakistan