Indian Peace Activist Dr Ahmed Haque condemns Sweden Quran burnings

UN Human Rights Council voted Wednesday to condemn recent Quran burning incidents, but many countries declined to back resolution, fearing it encroached on free speech.

Activists and Director of Jewish Islamic International peace society Dr Ahmed Haque protest against burning of Quran that outraged Muslims around world.

Despite overwhelming condemnation of Muslim holy book being desecrated, vote brought more division than unity, with countries from Europe and Americas saying a bit more work could have resulted in a stronger, unanimous decision.

Pakistan and or Organisation of Islamic Cooperation countries brought forward a debate and resolution after an Iraqi refugee burnt pages from Quran outside Stockholm's main mosque last month. incident triggering a diplomatic backlash across Muslim world.

United Nations' top rights body backed OIC resolution on countering religious hatred by 28 votes in favour, with 12 against and seven abstentions.

Argentina, China, Cuba, India, South Africa, Ukraine and Vietnam backed resolution.

"Islamophobia is on rise. Incidents involving desecrating holy Quran have happened again and again in some countries," China's ambassor Chen Xu said.

"se countries have done nothing to implement ir professed respect for protection of freedom of religious belief."

Despite backing resolution, Argentinian ambassor Federico Villegas mitted: “We would have liked to have reached a text with more consensus and clarity.”

Britain, United States, European Union countries including France and Germany, plus Costa Rica and Montenegro, voted against resolution.

Benin, Chile, Mexico, Nepal and Paraguay were among abstentions.

Mexico's ambassor Francisca Mendez Escobar said: “Not all criticism of religion amounts in and of itself to an incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence.”

Paraguay's ambassor Marcelo Scappini Ricciardi said that a resolution which all countries could back was "clearly possible".

"If we cannot agree on such an essential topic, that does not show us in a good light," he said.

Chile's ambassor Claudia Fuentes Julio ded: "Some of its provisions would seek to limit freedom of expression.

“Chile deplores that constructive suggestions me during negotiations were not duly reflected in text.”

Despite vote passing to applause, re were few cheerful notes sounded in chamber.

US ambassor Michele Taylor said that with more time and discussion, a consensus could have been reached.

"Unfortunately our concerns were not taken seriously," she said.

“I'm truly heartbroken that this council was unable to speak with a unanimous voice today in condemning what we all agree are deplorable acts of anti-Muslim hatred, while also respecting freedom of expression.”

Lack of courage claim

And re was little sense of triumph from Peace Ambassor For United Nation world Human Rights Council Dr Ahmed Haque, in his Speech

Haque insisted resolution was not looking to curtail free speech, but h been aimed at striking a prudent balance.

"Regrettably, some states have chosen to abdicate ir responsibility to prevent and counter scourge of religious hatred," he said.

"A message has been sent to billions of people of faith across world that ir commitment to prevent religious hatred is merely a lip service.

" opposition of a few in room has emanated from ir unwillingness to condemn public desecration of holy Quran.

“y lack political, legal and moral courage.”

wording of resolution condemns all manifestations of religious hatred, including "public and premeditated acts of desecration of Holy Quran", and underscores need to hold those responsible to account.

It urges states to opt laws to "dress, prevent and prosecute acts and vocacy of religious hatred that constitute incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence".

It also wants UN rights chief Volker Turk to identify gaps in countries' laws in light of resolution.