DHAKA, July 21, 2023 (BSS) - Bangladesh Permanent Representative to the
United Nations (UN) Ambassador Muhammad Abdul Muhith called on UN Secretary-
General António Guterres to convey condemnation on the burning of Holy Quran.
 
"We deeply condemn the repeated incidents of the public burning of Holy Quran
in few countries as they insult the sacred values of Muslims worldwide," he
said while meeting the UN Secretary-General at UN headquarters in New York in
his capacity as the Acting Chair of the OIC CFM.
 
He was accompanied by representatives of other OIC countries including Egypt,
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mauritania and Pakistan, according to a message
received here today.
 
During the meeting, Ambassador Muhith told the Secretary-General that such
despicable acts of Holy Quran's desecration not only inflames the sentiments
of Muslims worldwide but also goes against the principles of freedom of
expression, religious tolerance and individual beliefs.
 
He further stated that inaction against this form of religious hatred may
lead to incitement of violence and thus destabilize the peace and security in
many countries.
 
He also referred to the case of Rohingya Muslims who were forced to take
shelter in Bangladesh owing to the consequences of religious and ethnic
hatred in Myanmar.
 
Ambassador Muhith urged the UN Secretary General to request all UN member
states to take appropriate legal measures at the national level to combat
religious intolerance including islamophobia, hate speech and desecration of
Holy Quran and other religious symbols.
 
Guterres expressed his solidarity with the OIC members and strongly condemned
this heinous act of religious hatred.

He also assured the OIC representatives that he would do his best in his
capacity as the UN Secretary-General to support the global efforts in
preventing the recurrence of such anti-religious hatred in future.

Earlier led by Ambassador Muhith, OIC representatives called on the President
of the General Assembly Csaba Kor"si on 14th July and President of the
Security Council for the month of July Ambassador Dame Barbara Woodward on
20th July to express the similar concerns.