OIC Members Consider Reviewing Ties with Countries that ‘Desecrate Holy Quran’

A young girl in Iraq holds a copy of the holy Quran during a massive rally against the desecration of the Quran in Sweden. (AP)
A young girl in Iraq holds a copy of the holy Quran during a massive rally against the desecration of the Quran in Sweden. (AP)
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OIC Members Consider Reviewing Ties with Countries that ‘Desecrate Holy Quran’

A young girl in Iraq holds a copy of the holy Quran during a massive rally against the desecration of the Quran in Sweden. (AP)
A young girl in Iraq holds a copy of the holy Quran during a massive rally against the desecration of the Quran in Sweden. (AP)

The member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) are currently contemplating suitable measures in response to instances of Quran desecration and burning, particularly in Sweden and Denmark.

These actions may involve the implementation of crucial political decisions and measures, such as the summoning of their respective ambassadors to Sweden and Denmark for consultation.

The foreign ministers of the member states of the OIC held an extraordinary meeting in Jeddah on Monday to tackle the repeated desecration of the Quran, issuing an extraordinary resolution regarding these acts.

In a statement, the OIC stressed the need for a reevaluation, whether on the economic, cultural, or other levels, to express nations’ rejection of the repeated insults to the sanctity of the Quran and Islamic symbols.

It also commended the measures taken by OIC member states in their relations with Sweden and Denmark as part of their condemnation of this offense.

The resolution welcomed the decision of the OIC Secretary-General to suspend the status of Sweden’s special envoy to the organization.

This suspension aligns with the final statement of the Executive Committee during its meeting on July 2, until Swedish authorities take necessary measures to criminalize acts of disrespect towards sacred Islamic symbols and prevent their recurrence.

Moreover, the resolution strongly condemned any form of hate speech that incites discrimination, hostility, or violence, whether disseminated through printed media, audiovisual means, electronic platforms, social media, or any other channels.

It vehemently denounced the repeated and flagrant attacks on the sanctity of the Quran, with the lates incident taking place in Stockholm on July 20 and Copenhagen on July 24.

The resolution expressed deep concern over the recurrence of such offenses and expressed profound regret for the Swedish authorities’ continued issuance of permits that allow them, and for their failure to take necessary measures to prevent them in both Sweden and Denmark.

The ministers decided to dispatch a delegation from the OIC, led by the Secretary-General, to urge the European Commission to express condemnation on behalf of the organization’s members for the crime of desecrating the Quran.

They called for necessary measures to be taken to ensure that such criminal acts are not repeated under the pretext of freedom of expression.



Saudi Govt Reiterates Support for Efforts that Bolster Regional, Int’l Peace and Security

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
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Saudi Govt Reiterates Support for Efforts that Bolster Regional, Int’l Peace and Security

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chairs the cabinet meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)

The Saudi government reiterated on Tuesday its keenness on bolstering regional and international security and peace.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud chaired the cabinet meeting that was held in Riyadh.

The government underscored the Kingdom’s support for efforts to reach political solutions to regional and global conflicts. It also stressed its backing to every effort that could boost cooperation to confront international challenges.

King Salman thanked the leaders of friendly and brotherly countries for their messages of congratulations on the occasion of Saudi Arabia’s National Day, which falls on September 23.

The ministers hailed the Royal speech delivered at the inauguration of the first year of the ninth session of the Shura Council, which outlined the nation's priorities, goals, and achievements, and reiterated the Kingdom's unwavering commitment to promoting peace and prosperity in the world.

The ministers expressed gratitude to King Salman for his Royal Order approving the King Salman Foundation bylaws. They commended the foundation, which is a reflection of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' commitment to building sustainable societies and investing in human development, and an extension of his longstanding tradition of charitable and humanitarian deeds.

The cabinet welcomed the United Nations General Assembly's adoption of a resolution calling for an end to the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories.

It stressed the need to take concrete and credible steps to achieve a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in line with the Arab Peace Initiative and relevant international resolutions.

The cabinet hoped the Pact for the Future, adopted by the UN summit, will mark a significant turning point in multilateral action.

The Kingdom believes that the pact can help establish a modern and equitable international system that fosters rapid progress toward sustainable development goals, addresses the needs of all nations, bridges the digital gap, and supports emerging economies to strengthen the global financial system.

In addition, the cabinet deemed the Kingdom's successful bid for the presidency of the International Coral Reef Initiative as a testament to its international recognition and standing in the field of marine environment protection, biodiversity, and ecosystem conservation.

Moreover, the cabinet expressed pride in the Kingdom's impressive results in the UN indicators concerning e-government development and tourism. They further strengthen the Kingdom's leading position and highlight the significant progress it has made in various fields, conforming with the goals of Vision 2030.