The Arab League Council held a meeting on the level of foreign ministers in Cairo on Thursday, one day after a Swedish extremist set afire a Holy Quran copy in front of a mosque in Stockholm.
The foreign ministers denounced strongly the despicable act which coincided with the Muslim celebration marking Eid Al-Adha, “an occasion that symbolizesg sacrifice and peace,” according to a statement from the Council. The Stockholm incident offends nearly two billion Muslims around the world and could instigate hatred and violence, the statement noted.
The Council demands the international community, particularly the Swedish authorities, prevent recurrence of such serious acts that use the freedom of expression as a ploy to foment sedition.
The international community should adopt legal measures to criminalize all manifestations of Islamophobia and declare them punishable hate crimes, it stressed.
Meanwhile, the Council highlighted the need to promote the culture of peace, coexistence and mutual respect
Source: Kuwait News Agency