DUBAI: The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has condemned in the strongest terms the burning of a copy of the Holy Quran by an extremist group outside the Iraqi embassy in Copenhagen. 

OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha expressed in a statement his deep dissatisfaction with the repeated incidents of “transgression against Islamic sanctities.”

In a statement, the OIC secretary general said such acts “constitute incitement to religious hatred, intolerance and discrimination,” as he warned of their dangerous consequences.

He also noted that such provocations were contrary to the spirit of Articles (19) and (20) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and could not be justified under the pretext of freedom of expression or opinion. 

Taha said “that the right to freedom of expression and opinion entailed responsibilities under international law, which clearly prohibited any incitement to religious hatred, intolerance and discrimination.”

He also underlined to the provisions of the resolution on “combating religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence”, recently adopted by the UN Human Rights Council.

The Secretary-General urged the Danish government to take the necessary measures to prevent the recurrence of such provocative acts and avoid their repercussions.