Iran summons Swedish and Danish envoys over Holy Qur'an desecration

The Deputy Director General of the Human Rights Department at the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs convened separate meetings with the charge d'affaires of Sweden and Denmark on Sunday to address the escalating issue.

During these meetings, the Iranian diplomat sternly condemned the ongoing offensive and reprehensible acts of disrespect directed at the Holy Qur'an in both Sweden and Denmark. The diplomat underscored that the governments of these two countries bear full responsibility for the potentially serious consequences arising from insulting the Holy Qur'an.

Referring to previous statements made by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, in which he articulated that supporting individuals who commit sacrilege against the Holy Qur'an equates to declaring war against the Islamic world, the Iranian foreign ministry's department issued a warning against any future recurrence of such harmful and conspiratorial actions.

Furthermore, the Iranian official reminded the envoys that while freedom of expression is a fundamental principle, it comes with specific duties and responsibilities. The Iranian representatives urged the Swedish and Danish envoys to uphold international obligations as outlined in Articles 19 and 20 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

Within the context of these summoning meetings, the Iranian representative also highlighted the resolutions endorsed during the 53rd session of the Human Rights Council and the 18th emergency gathering of foreign ministers from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Expressing disappointment, the Iranian side criticized the lack of adherence by the Swedish and Danish governments to these resolutions, despite clear positions held by scholars worldwide condemning the desecration of the Holy Qur'an. The Iranian officials raised concerns about the perceived indifference towards addressing hate speech and Islamophobia, implying that these governments continue to lend support to those who engage in sacrilegious acts.

In response, the envoys from Sweden and Denmark affirmed their countries' unequivocal condemnation of any form of desecration of the Holy Qur'an. They assured that their respective governments are resolute in their commitment to prevent such incidents through amendments to their domestic laws. Additionally, they pledged to promptly convey the Iranian protest to their capitals. (ILKHA)