The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has passed a resolution against Sweden denouncing recent incidents of Quran burning, despite concerns raised by some countries about potential encroachments on freedom of speech. Of the 47 council members, 28 voted in favor of the resolution, 12 voted against, and seven abstained.
At the urgent meeting, convened at the request of Pakistan, the focus centered on safeguarding religious protection and speech rights. Pakistan, along with other nations, expressed deep concern over the escalating acts of religious hatred, specifically citing the desecration of the Holy Quran in certain European and other countries.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Bilawal Zardari, characterized these acts as incitements to religious hatred, designed to provoke violence. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the urgent need to combat hate speech through awareness, dialogue, education, and interfaith engagement. Türk viewed Quran burnings as deliberate provocations intended to sow discord and incite violence.
Türk further drew attention to the surge in hate speech fueled by social media, which poses detrimental effects on both individuals and societal cohesion. He stressed the crucial importance of striking a delicate balance between freedom of speech and respect for religious freedom. Türk called for limitations on free expression to prioritize the protection of individuals rather than shield religious doctrines from critical analysis.
One recent Quran burning incident in Sweden garnered widespread backlash from Muslims worldwide. While Sweden’s government condemned the act as Islamophobic, it also highlighted its obligation to uphold constitutionally protected rights to freedom of assembly, expression, and demonstration.
Türk cautioned against the intensifying hate speech that targets individuals based on their religion, skin color, or sexual orientation. He attributed the rise in hate speech to the amplifying effects of social media, which further exacerbates national and international conflicts and contributes to societal polarization. Additionally, Türk noted the manipulation of religion for political purposes within certain segments of societies.
The ongoing UNHRC session, the second of its three annual sessions, will continue until Friday. Pakistan and members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation are aiming to pass a resolution during this session, specifically addressing concerns surrounding Quran burning and religious desecration. The delicate issue of balancing freedom of speech with the preservation of religious freedom remains a prominent topic for discussion within the UNHRC, as participants navigate the complexities of protecting individual rights while promoting societal harmony.