A meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the chair has decided to observe Yaum-e-Taqaddus-e-Quran on Friday to register a protest against the desecration of the Holy Quran in Sweden.
The meeting also decided to convene a joint parliamentary session on Thursday to devise a national strategy on the issue. The joint session will also adopt a resolution to condemn the acts of hurting the sentiment of the Ummah.
The premier made an appeal to the people to join the demonstration to send a strong message to the mischievous minds. He laid stress on unity and urged all the political parties to ensure participation in the countrywide rallies.
Shehbaz said: “The sentiments and feelings of the nation should be fully expressed through the forum of the Parliament. Honouring the Holy Quran is part of our faith, we are all united for it.
“Misguided minds are following a nefarious agenda by spreading the negative trend of Islamophobia. Peace-loving nations and leaders around the world who believe in co-existence should block the path of violent forces victim to Islamophobia and religious prejudices."
A man, who fled from Iraq to Sweden several years ago, tore up and burned the Holy Quran outside Stockholm’s central mosque last week when the Muslims were marking Eidul Azha.
The act invited criticism and condemnation from several states, including Pakistan, Turkiye, Jordan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Iraq and Iran. Thousands of protesters gathered outside the Swedish embassy in Baghdad, calling for cutting diplomatic ties with Sweden.
A protest outside the Swedish Embassy in Iran was also held. Moreover, the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Swedish Minister of Foreign Affairs in Tehran to register the protest over the act
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) convened an emergency meeting of the Executive Committee to mull over measures to fend off such offensives.
The European Union too condemned the desecration outside Stockholm’s central mosque, describing the act as “offensive, and disrespectful and a clear act of provocation.”
“Manifestations of racism, xenophobia and related intolerance have no place in Europe,” Nabila Massrali, the EU spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy, said in a statement.
“The EU joins the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in its strong rejection of the burning of a [copy of the Holy] Quran by an individual in Sweden. This act in no way reflects the opinions of the European Union.”
She added, “It is even more deplorable that such an act was carried out on the important Muslim celebration of Eidul Azha.” The United Nations showed solidarity with the Muslims and condemned the sacrilegious act.