The Senate on Friday held candid discussion on recent despicable acts of desecration of Holy Quran in Sweden and the Netherlands.
Participating in the debate, Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar strongly condemned the desecration of Holy Quran in the two European countries.
He said Islam preaches the message of peace, tolerance and brotherhood and the Holy Quran is a complete code of life.
The Minister said Islamophobic incidents in European countries are a matter of great concern.
Azam Nazeer Tarar said the government will take up the matter seriously at appropriate forums including the United Nations, OIC and the European Union and we will register our protest in a responsible manner.
In his remarks, Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani said protests are taking place in different parts of the world over the heinous crime committed in the two European countries. He said the acts in European countries have hurt the sentiments of Muslim Ummah.
Taking the floor, Mushtaq Ahmad said the desecration of Holy Quran is an immoral, provocative and terrorist attack against Muslims. He called for lodging strong protest with the envoys of Sweden and the Netherlands to convey the sentiments of the Muslims on the shameful acts.
Taking the floor, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif urged the western countries to stop Islamophobic incidents saying their double standards on human rights and freedom of expression pose a threat to world peace.
He said the Muslim countries should collectively express their resentment over the desecration acts.
The Defence Minister said Islamophobia in the Western countries is the main cause of extremism in Muslim countries. He said if they respect our religion, the extremist tendencies can also be checked.
Khawaja Asif strongly condemned Indian and Israeli state sponsored terrorism against the Muslim population.
He said Israel killed about forty Palestinians this month while the narrative of BJP-led government in India is based on Islam enmity.
He said the Indian Prime Minister is the biggest terrorist as he was involved in the massacre of Muslims in Gujarat.
Participating in the debate, Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar asked the people of different faiths to ponder over the Holy Quran which is a divine communication.
He said the central theme of this Holy Book is human-being and understanding it would cleanse not only the human soul but also the whole environment of the planet.
In his remarks, Faiz Muhammad said since Islam is spreading in European countries, therefore, propaganda has been unleashed by certain elements against the religion to stop this process.
He said Islamophobic acts in Europe are a conspiracy against our religion.
Participating in the discussion, Irfan Siddiqui said the Islamophobic acts in European countries are not freedom of expression but it is an expression of their hate and bigotry towards Islam and Muslims.
Taj Haider emphasized for effectively spreading the message of Islam and Holy Quran in the world. He said the world should be informed that the Holy Book is not only for the Muslims but the whole of humanity.
In his remarks, Faisal Javed said contempt of religion cannot be allowed under the garb of freedom of expression. He said such provocative steps should be declared illegal at the international level.
Kaman Michael said those involved in Islamophobic acts have nothing to do with any religion.
Other Senators also strongly denounced the desecration acts in European countries.
Minister of State for Law Shahadat Awan said the entire Pakistani nation is united against the shameful acts in European countries. He said Pakistan will forcefully raise the issue of Islamophobia at the international level.
The Senate today unanimously passed a resolution expressing its deepest dismay and shock at the vicious and vile act of the burning, tearing and desecrating the Holy Quran by racists, bigoted and extremist leaders in Sweden and the Netherlands.
The resolution moved by Senator Mushtaq Ahmed said the upper house strongly protests to governments of Sweden and the Netherlands for allowing the organizers of these extremists and fanatics to stage the burning of Holy Quran in the name of freedom of expression. The pretext of freedom of expression cannot be used to attack the religious emotions of 1.5 billion Muslims across the world.
Condemning the acts of Islamophobia being hateful, vicious, highly explosive and contrary to the principles of international law, the resolution expressed the collective will of state and people of Pakistan against the act of desecration of the Holy Quran by the racists and extremists, saying this vicious crime is a calculated and deliberate attempt to harm interfaith harmony, social peace, religious tolerance. It said that such acts will ultimately prove to be divisive for peace and stability amongst countries, cultures and civilizations.
The Senate through its resolution urged the Muslims to maintain calm and composure and promote Islam’s message of peace, tolerance and universal brotherhood.
The resolution urged the government to summon the Ambassadors of Sweden and the Netherlands and convey the strong sentiments, shock and anger felt by the people of Pakistan against the desecration of Holy Quran. It said the Sweden and the Netherlands must be impressed upon to take firm lawful action against those who desecrated the Holy Quran.
The resolution asked the government to coordinate with the Members of the OIC to take a unified position on this issue which is central to the core beliefs of all Muslims. It said Pakistan should take up this issue before the upcoming session of the UN Human Rights Council, which is meeting in Geneva next week.
The House will now meet on Monday at three pm.
Source: Radio Pakistan
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