An Ambassadorial meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Member States, convened by Pakistan, condemned the recent abhorrent act of desecration of the Holy Quran in Sweden and in Netherlands.
Ambassador Munir Akram, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, served as the meeting’s chair.
The meeting said in a statement that such heinous acts were current examples of Islamophobia. In accordance with the historic resolution passed by the UN General Assembly last year, it was also decided to hold a special gathering at the UN in New York to recognize the Day to Combat Islamophobia.
“Through this event, the OIC countries would call for international solidarity and cooperation in combating and dismantling anti-Muslim rhetoric and practices including racial profiling, discrimination, negative stereotyping, and stigmatization of Muslims” the Pakistani envoy said.
As a follow-up of the resolution, he added, “the OIC will urge the UN Secretary-General to formulate an action plan, in coordination with the OIC countries, to halt and reverse Islamophobia”
In addition, the Pakistani spokesperson told the OIC meeting that on March 8, International Women’s Day, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will host and preside over a High-Level Conference on Women in Islam in New York.
It was noted that the OIC Member States expressed their gratitude and continued support for Pakistan’s actions during this meeting.
The OIC summit on Wednesday approved Tajikistan’s bid to be elected to the UN Security Council for the year 2028–2029, among other issues on the agenda.
The OIC meeting was updated by Ambassador Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, on the recent troubling events in Palestine and Jerusalem, especially the violations of the Al Aqsa Mosque’s sanctity.
