Pakistan has strongly condemned the despicable act of desecration of the Holy Quran in the Netherlands.

In a statement, Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said it is undoubtedly a provocative Islamophobic hate crime committed under the guise of freedom of expression. Such offensive acts deeply hurt the feelings of 1.5 billion Muslims around the world and can create disharmony among the international community.

The spokesperson said Pakistan has always maintained that freedom of expression comes with responsibilities. We also believe that it is the responsibility of national governments and the international community at large to prevent such vile acts, which are perpetrated with the ulterior motive to provoke and incite religious hatred and violence.

The spokesperson urged the international community to raise its collective voice against Islamophobia and work together to promote inter-faith harmony and peaceful coexistence. This was the spirit behind the resolution passed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2022 to mark 15 March as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said Pakistan’s concerns are being conveyed to the authorities in the Netherlands. She urged them to be mindful of the sentiments of the people of Pakistan and the Muslims around the world and take steps to prevent such hateful and Islamophobic acts.