Pakistan condemns Quran’s desecration in Netherlands

Islamabad: Pakistan has strongly condemned the despicable act of desecration of the Holy Quran in the Netherlands.

In a statement, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said it is undoubtedly a provocative Islamophobic hate crime committed under the guise of freedom of expression.

“Such offensive acts deeply hurt the feelings of 1.5 billion Muslims around the world and can create disharmony among the international community,” she stated.

The spokesperson said Pakistan has always maintained that freedom of expression comes with responsibilities.

She added, “We also believe that it is the responsibility of national governments and the international community at large to prevent such vile acts, which are perpetrated with the ulterior motive to provoke and incite religious hatred and violence”.

Mumtaz Zahra urged the international community to raise its collective voice against Islamophobia and work together to promote inter-faith harmony and peaceful coexistence.

This was the spirit behind the resolution passed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2022 to mark March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia.

Baloch further added: “Pakistan’s concerns are being conveyed to the authorities in the Netherlands”. She urged them to be mindful of the sentiments of the people of Pakistan and the Muslims around the world and take steps to prevent such hateful and Islamophobic acts.  

Earlier on January 21, such incident took place in Sweden which was strongly condemned by Muslim communities on different platforms around the world.