The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) strongly condemns the barbaric behavior that instigated the Swedish “hard-line” movement to burn a copy of the Holy Quran, in a scene that demonstrates civilizational defeat. The act, which is a blunt rejection of the spirit of tolerance that believes in cultural and religious diversity, does nothing but stir up hatred feelings and revive hate speech whenever they start to vanish.

ICESCO re-affirms that disdain for the values and principles governing the lives of nations and peoples is the most dangerous weapon of destruction that is likely to disrupt efforts of establishing international peace and development. Therefore, the Organization warns that this heinous act will only escalate tensions, hostility and confrontation, and drive the whole of humanity into international conflicts that threaten its security and peace instead of making people rally around peace principles that guarantee its prosperity and progress.

While reminding that the repetition of such offenses will not undermine the value of the Holy Quran, which attracts more and more believers around the world every day, ICESCO warns again that the authorities – wherever they are – by allowing these trends to undertake such heedless expressions, are simply deviating humanity from the civilized path that is committed to respecting the values of peoples and the ethics of their cultures and customs. The Organization also reaffirms that it will never fail to move forward with the international peace-loving forces, in fighting such trends and promoting the culture of enlightenment and the principles of moderation.