During the general political debate at the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized that acts of vandalism targeting holy books should not be regarded as expressions of freedom and democracy.
"Interreligious and interfaith dialogue plays a pivotal role in fostering a culture of peace. Therefore, we express our concern regarding recent instances of profound disrespect towards holy books. Acts of vandalism, whether targeting Islam or any other religion, should not be misconstrued as exercises of freedom of speech and democracy. All sacred texts, including the Quran, warrant legal protection against acts of desecration," he stated.
In the summer of 2023, a series of Quran-burning rallies occurred in Sweden and Denmark. These events were organized by Salwan Momika, a political activist of Iraqi descent in Sweden, and the right-wing group Danish Patriots in Denmark. These actions ignited widespread condemnation from the global Muslim community, triggering protests and assaults on Swedish diplomatic missions in various Middle Eastern countries. Additionally, they cast a shadow over Sweden's bid to join NATO, as Turkish authorities have not yet granted their approval, further straining relations between the two countries.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: official website of the President of the Russian Federation
Based on materials from TASS