By The South Asia Times

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan on Tuesday praised the role of the OIC to raised voice against the recent incidents of the desecration of the Holy Quran in Sweden and other European countries.

Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari spoke with OIC Secretary General, Hissein Brahim Taha, over the telephone and condemned the recent incidents of the desecration of the Holy Quran in Sweden, according to the statement, issued from the foreign ministry. 

“Condemning the despicable acts, which were clear violations of international law, the Foreign Minister briefed the OIC Secretary General about the resolution adopted by the Parliament of Pakistan in a joint sitting on 6 July 2023, and observance of ‘Youm-e-Taqaddus Quran’ across Pakistan on 7 July 2023, reflecting the aspirations of the people of Pakistan to safeguard the sanctity of the Holy Quran,” it said.

Zardari also praised the urgency with which OIC was responding to these reprehensible acts, under the stewardship of the Secretary-General. He commended the OIC for holding an Open-ended Extraordinary Meeting of the OIC Executive Committee on 2 July 2023, in Jeddah, and issuance of comprehensive Communiqué after the meeting. 

He also welcomed the OIC decision for holding Emergency Ministerial Meeting on this issue and briefed the Secretary-General about his telephone calls with the Foreign Ministers of Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Türkiye in this regard.

 The OIC Secretary General commended Pakistan’s efforts to combat and counter Islamophobia and appreciated the leading role played by Pakistan in this regard at the UN.

“The Foreign Minister assured the Secretary-General that Pakistan stood ready to actively participate in all OIC initiatives to arrest the reprehensible tide of Islamophobia,” according to the statement.