- Nationwide protests are taking place on the call of the government.
- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif says, “The Quran is in our hearts.”
- The burning of the holy Quran by a man in Sweden has sparked outrage in the Muslim world.
Pakistan celebrated ‘Youm-e-Taqdus-e-Quran’ on Friday to register a strong protest against the desecration of the Holy Quran in Sweden – a country that has repeatedly allowed such heinous acts.
Demonstrations are taking place across the country, with people from different walks of life participating in the protest to express their outrage at the desecration of the holy book.
A man traveling to Sweden from Iraq burned pages of the Holy Quran outside a mosque in Stockholm on the first day of Eid al-Adha, sparking outrage in the Muslim world and condemnation from Pope Francis.
Presiding over a meeting in Islamabad on Tuesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif decided to hold a nationwide protest over the incident and appealed to all political parties and the nation to participate in rallies.
Speaking in one voice, the Prime Minister said, “The entire nation will send a message to evil minds.” He said the country would celebrate “Youm-e-Taqdus-e-Quran” on Friday.
Since the incident, several demonstrations have taken place across the country, in which people from other religions also participated to express their displeasure over the desecration of the holy book.
In a tweet today, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the nation is united when it comes to the Holy Quran, noting that not only Pakistanis but the entire Muslim world is appalled by this heinous act.
The Prime Minister said that people across the country will express their feelings on the heart-wrenching incident after Friday prayers, where “all Muslims will raise the flag of respect for the Holy Quran and register their protest”.
The Prime Minister said, “The Quran is in our hearts. The Quran is not only a lesson for us but a guideline to live by.”
Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said that the desecration of the Holy Quran in Sweden is another example of a growing Islamophobic mindset that seeks to dehumanize and denigrate Islam.
“To attempt this is an act of blatant provocation [to] “Inflame passions and undermine Islam as a religion of peace, tolerance and acceptance,” the top diplomat said.
“Pakistan will raise the issue at the UNHRC urgent debate in Geneva on July 11 on behalf of the OIC grouping on premeditated acts of desecration of the Holy Quran.”
Climate Change Minister Sherry Rahman said the desecration of the holy book not only dehumanises Islam, but also deliberately seeks to inflame Muslim sentiments and undermine the basic teachings of Islam as a religion of peace, tolerance and acceptance.
“Pakistan will raise the issue at the UNHRC urgent debate in Geneva on July 11 on behalf of the OIC grouping on premeditated acts of desecration of the Holy Quran.”
