Rasmus Paludan burning the Quran during an anti-Islam demonstration in Sweden. Photo by Jonas Gratzer/Getty Images
Strongly condemning the burning of a Holy Quran in Sweden recently, President Ranil Wickremesinghe urged Western nations to uphold the value system of the Global South and refrain from allowing disturbances under the pretext of freedom of expression.
Noting that certain Western governments have argued that this act falls within the realm of freedom of expression, he observed that the central question at hand is whether this act constitutes a violation of freedom of religion or falls under the umbrella of freedom of expression.
"While we all perceive it as an assault on religion, some Western countries aim to broaden the concept of expression in order to alleviate the existing confusion. Nonetheless, not everything can be encompassed by freedom of expression, and there should be limits," he said.
President Wickremesinghe said that Pakistan has taken the matter to the Geneva Human Rights Council, submitting a proposal that deems it a violation of international law. A meeting has been scheduled in Geneva on Thursday (13) to address this issue.
Pointing out that several international non-governmental organizations argued that if this proposal is approved, it would be a setback for Western countries, he said that it is essential to note that this issue transcends geographical divisions, as it revolves around the right to practice religion.
"Personally, while I may not be a follower of Prophet Muhammad, I highly value the Holy Quran as an esteemed book. Similarly, individuals from diverse religious backgrounds can find wisdom and guidance in texts such as the Bhagavad Gita, the Bible, the Rig-Veda, and others. Thus, we collectively view this incident as an attack on religion, whereas some Western countries attempt to extend the notion of expression to alleviate the prevailing ambiguity," the President added.
