ABWA Official Website – In a statement, Ayatollah Mohammad Hassan Akhtari, Chairman of the Supreme Council of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, denounced the abominable act of burning the Holy Quran in Sweden and the Netherlands, reminding some points to the real and legal figures of the Islamic world.
The statement of Ayatollah Akhtari is as follows:
In the name of God, the Avenger
“Indeed, we belong to Allah and to Him do we indeed return” (Holy Quran 2:156)
In Europe, the desecration of the sacred things of religions – from the beloved Prophet (p.b.u.h) and other divine prophets to holy books and religious leaders – has become a recurring issue.
The heinous act of Rasmus Paludan and his like-minded people in Sweden and the Netherlands in burning the Holy Quran is a repetition of the stupid act he did in 2020, which caused unrest and damage to people and public property in those countries.
It was reasonably expected that the government officials and members of the Swedish parliament, at least for the sake of maintaining the security of their country and respecting the feelings of thousands of their Muslim compatriots, would prevent the Paludan from repeating his action. But it seems that, just as religion and spirituality have disappeared among the officials of European countries, reason and wisdom have no place among them anymore!
Swedish authorities – like other European authorities – justify this hateful act by claiming to defend freedom of speech. But they do not make serious efforts to prevent the abuse of freedom in Islamophobia, racism, and discrimination.
As the Chairman of the Supreme Council of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly – a global organization with hundreds of elite people from all over the world as members – I am not addressing Sweden and Netherlands and other European countries, but addressing the real and legal figures of the Islamic world, I would like to remind some points:
1. The continuation of the insults of the Westerners against the sacred religious values of Muslims is a direct result of the “inaction of the Islamic Ummah”. Muslims, who constitute about two billion people of the world’s population, are a great power, and in case of determination and unity, they can defeat seditious people in European countries.
2. Every time anti-human elements desecrate sacred things, and Western countries, under the false pretext of supporting freedom, let them free in this hatred, we see widespread condemnations and protests in the Islamic world. But these actions do not go beyond this stage and are forgotten after a few days! This makes those who insult even ruder.
3. With all its groups and classes, the Islamic Ummah must have a common determination to take “real deterrent measures” against countries that support Islamophobia. In this regard, each stratum of this great society has a particular duty.
4. The duty of the “governments of Islamic countries” is to take particular measures with political and economic pressure on the countries that provide the basis for these insults, which is appropriate to the position of the Muslim Ummah and Islamic states.
For instance, “summoning ambassadors”, “reducing the level of relations” and “imposing sanctions on trade and interactions with them” are noteworthy deterrent measures in dealing with Western governments. Because their entire goal is “materials affairs”.
5. The duty of the “Parliaments of the Islamic countries” is to hold an urgent session to review preventive solutions against the insults, and to approve and follow up practical decisions and urgent measures and pave the way for their governments in this regard.
6. The duty of “ulama, intellectuals, writers and speakers, cultural institutions and media of Islamic countries” is to explain the facts to the political and economic elites, as well as the general public. On the one hand, they should make the authorities of their countries to take decisive action against Western insulters, and on the other hand, urge people and business activists to be sensitive to these offensive actions and join the boycott of cultural goods and the economy of the West.
7. The duty of “Muslim jurists, professors, and academics” is to introduce legal ways to confront these actions. In this regard, relying on the rights of the followers of religions and respecting people’s opinions, and based on international and human rights charters, these criminal and illegal actions in Sweden and the Netherlands can be pursued until they are convicted and punished justly.
8. The duty of “the mass of people and the private sectors of Islamic countries” is to guard the sanctity of the Prophet (p.b.u.h) and the Book of God (Quran) by putting pressure on their governments to take practical and decisive action.
Don’t we see how European, American, and Zionist companies are profiting from our markets while they have no respect for our beliefs and values?
So why do we continue to buy these companies’ products and constantly make the insulters stronger?
In the end, it must be said that the continuation of the current process and being content with statements of condemnation and temporary demonstrations will not have practical results to stop these insults, and God forbid it will make us an example of this blessed Quranic verse: “وَقَالَ الرَّسُولُ يَا رَبِّ إِنَّ قَوْمِي اتَّخَذُوا هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ مَهْجُورًا” (And the Apostle will say, ‘O my Lord! Indeed, my people consigned this Quran to oblivion.’) (Holy Quran, Surah: Al-Furqan, Verse: 30).
Therefore, it is the duty of governments, ulama and religious leaders, politicians, parliaments, lawyers, jurists, and different sections of the ummah to take practical and deterrent measures to stop these insults.
Mohammad Hassan Akhtari
Chairman of the Supreme Council of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly and
CEO of Ashura International Foundation
Rajab 1, 1444 AH
January 23, 2023
/345/