Rabat – The United Nations General Assembly, comprising 193 member states, unanimously adopted a resolution presented by Morocco against the burning of the Quran and hate speech targeting religious symbols.
The resolution strongly condemns all acts of violence perpetrated against individuals based on their religion or beliefs and the desecration of sacred texts, stressing that such behavior violates international law.
Championing the cause of peace and tolerance, Morocco has garnered widespread acclaim for its role as a regional and global leader in promoting peace, tolerance, and interreligious and intercultural dialogue.
The presentation and adoption of the resolution come amid rising concerns about Islamophobia and the challenges that Muslim communities face in Europe, with the most recent incident being the burning of the Quran in Sweden.
The event garnered widespread attention and condemnation from the international community, with many warning that such actions create an environment of fear and hostility for Muslims.
During the presentation of the resolution to the General Assembly, Morocco’s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Omar Hilale underlined that this resolution builds upon resolution 73/328 adopted in 2019, which was the first of its kind on hate speech.
It also builds on resolution 75/309, which proclaimed June 18 as the “International Day for Countering Hate Speech,” to be observed each year.
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Hilale noted that the adoption of the new resolution aligns with the visionary, solidarity-driven, and humanitarian approach of King Mohammed VI in standing against hate speech, extremism, and all forms of racism.
The ambassador recalled the monarch’s speech during the opening of the 9th World Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, which took place in Fez in November 2022.
“Never has our civilization been so exposed; never has coexistence been so daily threatened; rarely has the ‘Other’ been so associated with suspicion or used to stoke fear and foment hatred,” the King said during his speech.
In addition, he expressed deep concerns about extremism and populism distorting “moderate discourse,” with religions often being misused or stigmatized.
Denouncing hate speech and any form of violence aimed at people based on their religion or beliefs, the King conveyed a vision of a world that prioritizes dialogue, understanding, and solidarity among diverse communities
In line with the King’s recommendations, Hilale highlighted that the new resolution aims to strengthen the collective commitment to promote a non-violent culture of peace for the well-being of humanity and future generations.
He underlined that the resolution does not seek to restrain freedom of expression but rather addresses hateful manifestations targeting a specific religion and ethnicity.
