Egypt's FM Condemns Quran Burning, Calling for Legislation to Prevent Religious Hatred

Egyptian foreign minister Sameh Shoukry condemned the repeated burning of the Quran by extremists, most recently in Sweden, stressing the necessity to confront and prevent such provocations.

Shoukry delivered a recorded statement on Egypt's position during a debate titled "The Escalation of Religious Hatred Evident in the Repeated Violations of the Holy Quran" held by the Human Rights Council on Tuesday, at the request of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

The minister also stressed that states must observe their obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

The ICCPR mandates the adoption of legislation prohibiting incitement to religious hatred, and the development of strategies to promote peaceful coexistence and tolerance.

While states must respect freedom of expression, they also have a responsibility to maintain security and social stability, Shoukry stated.

In late June, an Iraqi immigrant burned a copy of the Quran outside a mosque in Stockholm on the first day of the Islamic Eid Al-Adha, with a demonstration permit from Swedish authorities.

The act has been widely condemned by various Muslim and non-Muslim countries, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Iran and the US.

Egypt’s Foreign Ministry also condemned the act, describing it as “shameful” and stressing the “duty of states to prevent incitement and hate crimes.”

The June incident in Sweden is the latest in a series of Quran burnings in northern European countries, many carried out by right-wing groups.

Al-Azhar, the world's foremost seat of Sunni learning, has repeatedly condemned the Quran burnings, calling on European states to prevent incitement against Muslims in the West.