CAIRO, Jul 12 (NNN-MENA) – Egyptian Foreign Minister, Sameh Shoukry, yesterday condemned the repeated burnings of the Quran by extremists, calling for international action to prevent such provocations in the future.
Shoukry made the remarks in a recorded speech to an urgent session of the UN Human Rights Council held in Geneva, to discuss the escalation of acts of religious hatred and the repeated violations of the Quran, most recently in Sweden, the Ahram Online website reported.
The Egyptian top diplomat expressed deep concern over and condemned the “repeated crimes of burning the Holy Quran at the hands of extremists,” stressing the need to address these crimes, prevent their recurrence and hold the perpetrators accountable.
He said, states must observe their obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which mandates the adoption of legislation prohibiting incitement to religious hatred and the development of strategies to promote peaceful coexistence and tolerance.
In late Jun, a Swedish citizen of Iraqi origin burned a copy of the Quran in front of a mosque, in Sweden’s capital, Stockholm, during a demonstration authorised by the Swedish authorities, sparking fury from Muslims around the world.– NNN-MENA
