The President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, has condemned the burning of the Koran in a number of Northern European states. Tokayev called the acts of burning the Koran “unacceptable provocations” that are aimed at escalating tension in the world and undermining trust between peoples and states, Turanews.kz reports.
Tokayev said that Kazakhstan is the initiator of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, which has become a platform for dialogue between prominent representatives of traditional religions and confessions. He called on the international community to unanimously condemn the burning of the Koran and other acts of religious vandalism.
“The increasing cases of religious vandalism and irresponsible behavior of citizens of the respective states should be unanimously condemned as actions that run counter to the generally recognized norms of civilized coexistence of states and religions. The UN General Assembly should also say its weighty word on this matter,” Tokayev said.
The burning of the Koran in Copenhagen, Denmark, in front of the building of the Iraqi Embassy, is the latest in a series of incidents of religious vandalism in Northern Europe. In recent years, there have been a number of attacks on mosques and other religious sites in the region.
The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution in 2011 condemning any acts of desecration of sacred books and recognizing such actions as a violation of international law.
