AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): The High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) has reiterated that the desecration of sacred religious books is not freedom of expression but rather an expression of contempt and religious hatred.
Miguel Moratinos, in a statement on Thursday, condemned the recurrent desecration of the holy Qur’an, including the incident in Stockholm, Sweden.
"The High Representative also condemns the acts of violence and the storming of the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad today. He reiterates that the desecration of sacred religious books and religious sites is a disrespectful and provocative act. Such acts often lead to agitation and incitement to violence. At the same time, he stresses that violence is never an appropriate response to provocation, adding that the freedom of assembly is a fundamental human right," added the statement.
The statement further stated, "In this context, the High Representative recalls the United Nations Plan of Action to Safeguard Religious Sites led by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) which advocates promoting religious pluralism, mutual respect, and human dignity."
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