Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Calls For UN Intervention After Quran Burning Cases In Sweden, Denmark

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation has called on intervention by the United Nations into the recent incidents of Quran burnings in Sweden and Denmark while also strongly condemning the incidents. A special session of the body of foreign ministers met virtually on Monday, on the same day as a further protest took place outside the Swedish parliament involving desecration of the Muslim holy book. The OIC, which represents 57 states, called on the UN secretary general to appoint a special rapporteur on combating Islamophobia, in a 35-point action plan.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It also urged all governments to fully implement the existing law or adopt a new legislation if needed, citing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as per a Guardian report.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The OIC also told its groups in New York and Geneva to &ldquo;continue raising and informing the concerned organs of the United Nations&rdquo; and pressed for the issue to be placed on agenda of the session of the UN general assembly in September.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><strong>ALSO READ: <a title="Quran Burnt In Yet Another Protest In Sweden Outside Stockholm Parliament" href="https://ift.tt/XlsxuG8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Quran Burnt In Yet Another Protest In Sweden Outside Stockholm Parliament</a></strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">They should take &ldquo;necessary measures towards referring this resolution to the relevant organs of the United Nations official document and to request them to include this issue on their agenda under article (1-3) of the UN charter, which calls for promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all people without discrimination on the grounds of sex, language, or religion,&rdquo; it added.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">&ldquo;Attempts to spread Islamophobia are increasing in many parts of the world, as evidenced by the increasing number of incidents of religious intolerance, negative stereotypes, hatred and violence against Muslims; as the incidents of burning copies of [the Qur&rsquo;an] aggravate intolerance and discrimination,&rdquo; said the OIC.&nbsp;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Swedish foreign affairs minister Tobias Billstr&ouml;m on Monday said he would study the demands carefully and continue conversations with the OIC and its member countries. </span></p>