UN urged to intervene after Qur’an burnings in Sweden and Denmark

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation has strongly condemned recent Qur’an burnings in Sweden and Denmark as “despicable acts of aggression” and called on intervention by the United Nations amid a growing diplomatic crisis.

A special session of the body of foreign ministers met virtually on Monday, on the same day as a further protest involving the desecration of the Muslim holy book took place outside the Swedish parliament.

In a 35-point action plan, the OIC, which represents 57 states, called on the UN secretary general to appoint a special rapporteur on combating Islamophobia and urged all governments to fully implement existing law or adopt new legislation if needed, citing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

It also told its groups in New York and Geneva to “continue raising and informing the concerned organs of the United Nations” and for the issue to be placed on the agenda of the session of the UN general assembly in September.

It added that they should take “necessary measures towards referring this resolution to the relevant organs of the United Nations official document and to request them to include this issue on their agenda under article (1-3) of the UN charter, which calls for promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms for all people without discrimination on the grounds of sex, language, or religion”.

The Swedish foreign affairs minister, Tobias Billström, said on Monday night he would study the demands carefully and continue conversations with the OIC and its member countries.

“The government is very clear in its dissociation from Islamophobic acts carried out by individuals at demonstrations in Sweden,” he said, adding that the ministry of justice was undergoing a legal analysis and wanted to work closely with the OIC.

Ulf Kristersson, Sweden’s prime minister, and the justice minister, Gunnar Strömmer, were due to hold a press conference on Tuesday about the protection of Swedish citizens.

The OIC expressed its “grave concern over the increasing incidences of intolerance, discrimination and acts of violence in the world”.

It added: “Attempts to spread Islamophobia are increasing in many parts of the world, as evidenced by the increasing number of incidents of religious intolerance, negative stereotypes, hatred and violence against Muslims; as the incidents of burning copies of [the Qur’an] aggravate intolerance and discrimination.”