The Sultanate of Oman has expressed its condemnation and condemnation of burning of copies of the Holy Qur’an, describing the act as a provocation, insult to the feelings of Muslims and incitement to violence against them.

In a statement before the official meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, the permanent representative of the Sultanate of Oman to the United Nations in New York Ambassador Dr. Mohammed bin Awad Al-Hassan, called for combating this negative phenomenon with effective laws that criminalize these acts which now affect the lives of many people.

He called on the members of the international community to adhere to the values of tolerance, dialogue and peaceful coexistence based on mutual respect, stressing that tearing and burning copies of the Holy Qur’an or insulting the sanctities of peoples never falls under the exercise of freedom of opinion or freedom of expression, but rather it is an improper and irresponsible behavior aimed at spreading hatred and stirring up strife.

During the UN general assembly's meeting, an international resolution was issued rejecting and denouncing hate speech and manifestations of insulting religions and warning from the growing phenomenon of hostility and hatred of Islam and Muslims (Islamophobia) and foreigners around the world.

Oman also called on the international community to stand firmly against these disgraceful actions which run contrary to the provisions and lofty principles contained in the Charter of the United Nations.

Ambassador Mohammed Al-Hassan stressed that the world today is in dire need to build bridges of understanding, cooperation and dialogue, and that insulting the religious symbols and sanctities of peoples cannot be a right of expression or freedom of opinion, but rather a form of hatred that states and peoples reject, calling for holding the perpetrators accountable.

Source: Saudi Press Agency