ISLAMABAD: The prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, has condemned the desecration of the Quran by a far-right Danish politician, calling for global unity to combat the rising issue of Islamophobia.
Anti-Islam activist Rasmus Paludan, a Danish-Swedish dual national, burned two copies of the holy book, one near a mosque in the Danish capital and another outside the Turkish embassy.
He has vowed to continue the actions every Friday until Sweden is admitted into North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). Sweden and Finland, both seeking to join the military alliance amid the armed crisis in Ukraine, would require the approval of all group members.
Turkey has already indicated that it will block Sweden’s bid, in part due to Paludan’s initial actions, and had already been pressuring the two countries to crack down on Kurdish militant groups and other organisations considered terrorists by Ankara.
The prime minister took to Twitter Sunday to express his disappointment and called on the international community to come together to fight against Islamophobia.
The highly offensive desecration of the Holy Quran by a Danish politician is the third such incident in a row that should be strongly condemned by the civilised world. The need for global unity to fight Islamophobia couldn’t be more urgent than it is now. We are deeply hurt.
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) January 29, 2023
“The highly offensive desecration of the Holy Quran by a Danish politician is the third such incident in a row that should be strongly condemned by the civilised world,” he wrote.
The Foreign Office also issued a statement condemning the desecration and conveyed Pakistan’s concerns to the Danish authorities.
Pakistan has strongly condemned the senseless and deeply offensive act of desecration of the Holy Quran in Denmark, by the same Islamophobe who committed a similar act in Sweden a few days ago.
In a statement, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said the repetition of the vile act leaves little doubt in the minds of Muslims around the world that freedom of expression is being blatantly abused to spread religious hatred and incitement to violence.
“This repetition of the vile act leaves little doubt in the minds of Muslims around the world that freedom of expression is being blatantly abused to spread religious hatred and incitement to violence,” the Foreign Office Spokesperson said in a press release.
“We urge them to be mindful of the sentiments of the people of Pakistan and Muslims around the world and take steps to prevent such hateful and Islamophobic acts,” it was further added.
PM felicitates newly elected Punjab PbBC office bearers
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday extended his best wishes to newly-elected Vice Chairman, Punjab Bar Council (PbBC) Basharat Ullah Khan and Chairman Executive Committee Tahir Shabir.
On his Twitter handle, the prime minister said that Asma Jehangir Group had always stood firm for the rule of law and strengthening of democracy in the country.
In a related tweet, he also assured of his government’s unflinching support for the rule of law and welfare of legal fraternity.
