Global Outrage and Calls for Action After Quran Burnings

The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has adopted a resolution condemning recent incidents of Quran burning, despite some countries expressing concerns about freedom of speech. The resolution was prompted by an "alarming rise" in acts of religious hatred, particularly the desecration of the Quran in some European and other countries. Pakistan and other nations called for action to combat incitement to religious hatred, while the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights emphasized the need to address hate speech through awareness, dialogue, education, and interfaith engagement. The debate highlighted the tension between free speech and religious freedom, with Sweden's government defending the right to freedom of expression while condemning the Quran burning as Islamophobic.