The emergency debate, organized on Wednesday in Geneva, on the sidelines of the 53rd session of the Human Rights Council (HRC), was sanctioned by the adoption of a resolution condemning acts of religious hatred, which constitute a incitement to violence and discrimination.
The resolution was adopted by 28 votes for, 12 against and seven abstentions, during this meeting convened after the recurrent desecrations of the Holy Quran.
The members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) unanimously voted in favor of this resolution, while all Western countries voted against, as well as Costa Rica.
The resolution provides in particular for the organization of a high-level debate during the 54th session of the HRC, in September 2023, in anticipation of a report which will be presented by the High Commissioner during the 55th session, in March 2024.
The text views desecration as incitement to hatred, emphasizing the need to hold perpetrators of such acts of religious hatred accountable, in accordance with states’ obligations under international human rights law.
Morocco on Tuesday called on the HRC to act with unity and intransigence in the face of the recurrent desecration of the Holy Quran, which hurts the feelings of more than a billion Muslims.
“The fight against radicalization, extremism, obscurantism and violence must in no way be selective. These demonstrations must be unequivocally condemned”, launched the ambassador permanent representative of Morocco in Geneva, Omar Zniber.
Morocco, a fervent defender of human rights, has always attached itself to the free and unhindered expression of opinions, whatever they may be, he recalled, noting however that the Kingdom constantly reaffirms, its unwavering commitment to promoting the values of mutual respect, tolerance, coexistence, acceptance of others and the culture of peace.
This culture of peace is the very raison d’être of the United Nations, because it embodies the three pillars that guide its action, argued the diplomat, believing that the path to peace inevitably involves respect for the sacred values of religions.
The Rabat action plan, the resolution presented by Morocco and adopted by the General Assembly on the fight against hate speech, the Forum of the Alliance of Civilizations held in Fez, in addition to the call for Al Quds during the historic visit of Pope Francis to Morocco, are all proof of the Kingdom’s fundamental attachment to sincere interfaith dialogue, in tolerance, respect and acceptance of others, without any discrimination, on some basis, he added.
Opening the meeting, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, noted that “hate speech in all its forms is on the rise around the world”, calling for face through dialogue and education.