Al-Qur'an Burned In Sweden Along With Eid Al-Adha, OKI Immediately Holds Emergency Meeting

Photo archives - Protesters who are members of the Banten Citizen Brotherhood Forum (FPWB) carry posters when protesting against the burning of the Al Quran/ANTARA

JAKARTA - The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as chairman of the latest session of the Islamic Summit and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), called for an emergency meeting of the OIC Executive Committee which was held in Jeddah, Sunday, July 2. The purpose of the meeting was to deal with the impact of recent incidents related to the burning of the holy Qur'an, which took place in Sweden along with the celebration of Eid al-Adha. The meeting - reported by Antara news - is scheduled to discuss appropriate steps in responding to the despicable act, with the aim of conveying a joint stance against the blasphemy of the holy book Al Quran. The OIC emphasizes that this action will weaken mutual respect and harmony among humans, and goes against international efforts to promote the values of tolerance, moderation, and rejection of extremism. Furthermore, the OIC encourages various governments to take effective steps to prevent the emergence of such behavior. The OIC also strongly condemns the despicable repeated attacks, as well as any attempt to harass the feasibility of the Al Quran, and values, symbols, and other sacredness of Islam. The OIC reiterates that all countries based on the United Nations Charter (UN), have the duty to promote and encourage universal respect and obedience to human rights and fundamental freedom, regardless of race, gender, language, or religion. This emphasizes the importance of using the right to freedom of expression responsibly, following the relevant laws and instruments of international human rights. In addition, the OIC highlights the importance of encouraging dialogue, understanding, and cooperation between religions, cultures, and civilizations to promote peace and harmony around the world.