Geneva: The United Nations warned on Tuesday against the spread of hate speech with all its forms, assault on religions and sanctities, pointing to the dangers posed by these practices on international security and social peace.
During an urgent debate in the UN Human Rights Council that was held at the request of Pakistan on behalf of members of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in the aftermath of the burning of a copy of the Holy Quran in Sweden, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk asserted that the objective of burning of the Holy Quran in Stockholm and other similar incidences are an expression of contempt, instigating rage and standoff among people and provocation.
He pointed out that the destruction of religious sites and burning of sacred texts have been used for centuries to humiliate and provoke people.
Speeches and acts of incitement against Muslims, along with antisemitism that target religions or minorities are conspicuously forms of contempt, Turk said, pointing out that the international law stipulates that all countries should ban any call for national, racial, or religious hatred.
