OIC condemns Quran burning in Denmark, urges respect for UN resolution

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned on Saturday the burning of copies of the Quran in Denmark, following similar incidents in Sweden in the last few weeks.

The OIC’s permanent delegation to the UN office and other international organisations in Geneva called on Danish authorities to comply with their obligations under international law and not allow the burning or desecration of the Islamic holy book.

"We condemn in the strongest terms the desecration of the Noble Quran yesterday in Denmark," the organisation said.

Footage shared online and media reports said a far-right group called Danske Patrioter (Danish Patriots) burned copies of the Quran and the Iraqi flag outside the Iraqi embassy in Copenhagen.

An anti-Islamic group in #Denmark, Danske Patrioter, burned a copy of the Holy Quran in front of #Iraq's Embassy in Copenhagen on Friday. They claimed it was a protest against the attack on #Sweden's Embassy in Baghdad, Anadolu Agency has reported

📸: Social media pic.twitter.com/hkUmYqmi1C

— Zoom News (@zoomnewskrd) July 22, 2023

There have been similar anti-Islamic protests in Copenhagen, where the Quran and Turkish flags were burned.

The OIC stressed that the continued protection of these anti-Islamic acts and the failure to prevent them under the pretext of "freedom of expression" clearly fuels impunity in this regard.

The Jeddah based, 57-member organisation called on Denmark to comply with its obligations under international law and implement the UN Human Rights Council resolution on religious hatred.

The UN’s Human Rights Council approved a resolution on religious hatred in the wake of the Quran burning in Sweden last month. Western states expressed concern, saying it challenges long-held practices regarding protection of religious and ethnic minorities.

The resolution was introduced by Pakistan on behalf of the OIC and backed by other members of the body.

"Those who do not raise their voices despite the clear instructions of the Human Rights Council lose their credibility quickly," the OIC added.

The Quran burning in Denmark comes after days of tension in the Iraqi capital which saw the Swedish embassy torched and Sweden’s ambassador expelled from the country in response to similar anti-Islamic protests in Stockholm.

Protesters in Baghdad early on Saturday also tried to storm the Danish embassy in response to the Quran desecration in Copenhagen but were pushed back by security forces.

The Danish Refugee Council said Saturday its office had come under "armed attack" in the southern Iraq's Basra.

Iraq on Saturday assured nations that it would protect their diplomatic missions in the country following the attack on the Swedish embassy.