ISLAMABAD: Pakistan condemned despicable act of desecration of Holy Quran in Netherlands on January 22, 2023. “It is undoubtedly provocative Islamophobic hate crime committed under guise of freedom of expression. Such offensive acts deeply hurt feelings of 1.5 billion Muslims around world and can create disharmony among international community,” Foreign Office spokesperson said in statement.

Spokesperson said that Pakistan had always maintained that freedom of expression came with responsibilities. “We also believe that it is responsibility of national governments and international community at large to prevent such vile acts, which are perpetrated with ulterior motive to provoke and incite religious hatred and violence.”

Spokesperson said that international community should raise its collective voice against Islamophobia and work together to promote interfaith harmony and peaceful coexistence. That was spirit behind resolution passed by United Nations General Assembly in 2022 to mark March 15 as International Day to Combat Islamophobia, spokesperson added.

Published in The Daily National Courier, January, 26 2023

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