KUALA LUMPUR, July 21 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today applauded the United Nations Human Rights Council’s (UNHRC) resolution following a Quran-burning incident outside a Stockholm mosque during Aidiladha.
The UNHRC adopted the resolution to “counter religious hatred constituting incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence” on July 12. Of the 47 council members, 28 states voted in favour of the resolution including Malaysia, 12 voted against, and seven abstained.
Anwar said it is unfortunate that for every step against Islamophobia, hatred ignites among those who hide their heinous acts behind the mask of free speech, as demonstrated by the dissenting states.
“While the UNHRC has valiantly stood against this hate, I hope the dissenters reflect on their choice and do all in their power to ensure their actions and words do not commit a disservice — an injustice — against the noble body they serve or the human rights they defend,” he said in a statement today.
He said the disgraceful use of free speech as a shield leaves marginalised communities vulnerable to abuse to justify hate and cruelty.
“In as much as we reject the extremes of totalitarianism, an extremist notion of freedom is equally detrimental to society, which could lead to further infringements upon others’ rights to life and safety,” he said.
Anwar congratulated the Swedish government for taking a stand against Islamophobia and said he looks forward to seeing Swedish police echo this stance in their investigation.
“The harm and pain caused by the acts of a few can only be balanced by the rest of us standing together and choosing to respect one another, to care and show compassion, and to seek out understanding,” he said.
The prime minister said Islamophobia is a poison that threatens Western nations as much as it threatens Muslims wherever they reside.
“It is a contradiction, alongside all illogical hatreds and xenophobia, to the very aims of our shared human society.
“We cannot resolve these issues by burning and desecrating each other’s books, but by reading them and engaging in dialogue,” he said.
— Bernama
