• The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) passed a resolutionon July 12 addressing religious hatred and bigotry in response to thecontroversial Quran-burning incident in Sweden.
• While the motion received support from several nations, it faced opposition from the United States and the European Union.
UNHRC Debate Triggered by Quran-Burning Incident
The Quran-burning incident took place outside Stockholm’s main mosque during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha. The act of desecrating the holy book was carried out by an Iraqi immigrant and caused widespread outrage. Prompted by this incident, Pakistan and other Organisation of Islamic Cooperation countries requested an immediate debate at the UNHRC to address religious hatred.
The UNHRC resolution
The UNHRC resolution, overwhelmingly approved, serves as a global call to action, urging nations to proactively combat religious hatred and ensure the protection of freedom of religion and belief. The resolution emphasizes the importance of preventing and prosecuting acts and promoting advocacy that incites discrimination, hostility, or violence based on religious grounds. It aims to address not only incidents targeting Muslims but also those impacting other religious groups and minority communities. By extending its reach beyond a specific religion, the resolution seeks to foster a climate of inclusivity, tolerance, and respect for all individuals’ religious beliefs.
The Poll of Voting
Polling Percentage:
Approvers
Amidst the deliberations at the UNHRC, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, decried the Quran-burning incident as a deliberate instigation of religious antipathy and discrimination. Ministers representing Iran, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia repeated his concerns, highlighting their apprehension regarding the escalating occurrences of religious intolerance and prejudice. Together, they expressed their collective dismay over such acts that undermine the principles of religious harmony and peaceful coexistence. Even nations such as India and China have voted in favor of the resolution alongside the above-mentioned nations.
UN human rights chief Volker Turk also condemned inflammatory acts against Muslims, as well as other religions or minorities, describing them as offensive, irresponsible, and wrong.
Opposition
The United States and the European Union were at odds with the resolution, raising objections based on their positions on ‘freedom of expression’. Critics argue that their opposition undermines the global efforts to address religious hatred and discrimination. France’s ambassador to the UNHRC, Jerome Bonnafont said, “Protect people – not religions, doctrines, beliefs or their symbols. It is neither for the United Nations nor for states to define what is sacred.”, asserting that human rights should focus on protecting individuals rather than recognizing the significance of religious symbols and beliefs.But this is not surprising to hear from France, from records, one can observe instances of alleged Islamophobia and other forms of discriminatory practices occurring in France.
Reactions and Response to The Opposition
The voting on the resolution highlighted a divide among nations. Western countries such as Belgium, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States voted against the resolution, sparking discussions on social media platforms. Some users expressed their perception that burning the Quran was seen as an exercise of ‘freedom of expression’ by Western countries, whereas burning the Pride Flag was condemned as homophobia, hate crime, and bigotry.
It is very simple to understand that burning the Quran is not freedom of expression, but islamophobia.
The UNHRC’s approval of the resolution on religious hatred and bigotry in response to the Quran-burning incident in Sweden reflects the global concern for fostering religious tolerance and preventing acts that incite discrimination or violence.
