ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday Muslims around the world were “deeply hurt” by recent incidents of “Islamophobia” in two European countries after an anti-immigrant group incited hatred against Muslims by burning the Qur’an.
The incident took place in Sweden where a far-right politician Rasmus Paludan decided to visit various towns and cities with large Muslim populations to burn the scripture amid the Islamic fasting month of Ramadan.
Paludan’s “tour of Sweden” is widely viewed as an attempt to drum up support ahead of September elections in his country.
He also condemned offensive remarks made by a Dutch politician who recently attacked Islam and the holy month of Ramadan.
“People of Pakistan and Muslims around the world are deeply hurt by the recent incidents of Islamophobia in Sweden & the Netherlands,” he said in a Twitter post. “The international community must condemn these incidents & take steps to check such abhorrent behavior. We must stand united against Islamophobia.”
Pakistan’s foreign office also issued an elaborate statement on Monday to condemn the incidents.
“These mindless provocative Islamophobic incidents serve no purpose other than hurting the sensitivities of over 1.5 billion Muslims living all over the world,” the statement said. “Such actions are not covered under legitimate expressions of the right to freedom of expression or opinion, which carry responsibilities under international human rights law, such as the obligation not to carry out hate speech and incite people to violence.”
The foreign office said Muslims across the world condemned the practice of insulting Islam, Christianity and Judaism alike and stood against all acts of violence on the basis of religion.
“The international community needs to show a common resolve against xenophobia, intolerance and incitement to violence on the basis of religion or belief, and work together for promoting inter-faith harmony and peaceful co-existence,” it added.
The United Nations General Assembly recently designated March 15 as International Day to Combat Islamophobia after Pakistan and other members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation launched a campaign to highlight Muslim sensitivities around the issue.
“Pakistan’s concerns have been conveyed to the authorities in Sweden and The Netherlands,” the foreign office said. “They have been urged to take cognizance of the sentiments of the people of Pakistan and the Muslims worldwide and take steps to prevent Islamophobic incidents.”
The statement also called on the international community to demonstrate solidarity and commitment to the ideals of building peaceful and harmonious societies for the betterment of humanity.
Other Muslim countries, including Saudi Arabia and Iraq, have also reacted to the incident in Sweden and issued condemnations.
