Riyadh (UNA/SPA) – Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, the Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs, participated today in the emergency discussion session in the Human Rights Council on the incident of burning a copy of the Holy Quran, through video communication.
At the beginning of the meeting, the Minister of Foreign Affairs delivered a speech in which he renewed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's strong condemnation of the extremists' burning copies of the Holy Quran, stressing that these reprehensible acts cannot be accepted with any justification, and that they incite hatred, exclusion and racism, and directly contradict international efforts seeking to spread the values of tolerance. Moderation and rejection of extremism, and undermining the necessary mutual respect for relations between peoples and states.
He pointed out that the recurrence of incidents of burning copies of the Holy Qur’an during this year is cause for concern, and all the international condemnations and rejection of these acts are evidence that the international community and international organizations must act to stop these acts that are extremely offensive to the religious beliefs and feelings of individuals and societies, which contribute to incitement to hatred and violence. And hostility, taking advantage of freedom of opinion and expression in a wrong place, which is not compatible with human rights.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs said: The Kingdom is looking forward to adopting the proposed draft resolution “combating religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence” in accordance with human rights and an affirmation of its basic principles that reject all kinds of extremism, racism and advocacy of hatred.
At the end of his speech, he stressed the importance of freedom of expression being a moral value that spreads respect and coexistence among peoples, and not a tool to spread hatred and cultural and civilizational clash, pointing to the need to spread the values of tolerance and moderation, and reject all forms of practices that generate hatred, violence and extremism.
He reaffirmed that the global culture of tolerance and peace will only be based on concerted international efforts to promote the principles of respect and acceptance of religions, and work to promote this culture in all societies.
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