CAIRO – 21 September 2023: Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry reiterated the necessity of countries abiding by their commitments in respecting civil and political rights and approving national legislations to ban religious hatred and criminalize such practices, in addition to developing strategies that aim at reinforcing peaceful coexistence, social cohesion and spreading of tolerance and acceptance to the other.
This came during Shoukry's participation in the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC)'s foreign ministers meeting held on the fringe of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly.
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmed Abu Zeid said that Shoukry pointed out that the annual meeting of OIC this year coincides with the rise tide of hatred and racism, the spread of Islamophobia and incidents of burning the holy Quran, adding that such incidents Egypt has strongly condemned and denounced with the strongest words.
The Egyptian top diplomat also asserted the need for countering such crimes which are considered a breach to freedoms of religion and belief, asserting that such crimes are not in any way a form of freedom of opinion and expression.
Meanwhile, the Egyptian foreign minister praised the Denmark government's decision to issue a law banning the burning of any religious symbols, calling for garnering all efforts to adopt the same approach in countering any religious hatred crimes and spread of extremist practices, in addition to any threat to social peace in the various world countries.
He asserted that all partners of the international community should realize the importance of standing against racism and hatred of the other as a preemptive element to uproot extremist thought and dry up terrorism roots.
Shourky also added that extremist thought was not linked with any religion or race, but it seeks to spiral through increasing hatred incidents, poverty and deterioration of economic conditions.
He also called for working out a permanent and just settlement to the Palestinian issue, reiterating Egypt's firm belief in the necessity of achieving a just and comprehensive peace that guarantees the rights of the Palestinian people and their right to establish an independent state on the 1967's borders with east Jerusalem as its capital.
Shoukry also condemned the practices of the Israeli occupation forces that ignite violence and undermine the two-state solution.
He concluded his remarks with affirmation on Egypt's intention to continue its influential role in the OIC, as it is the main beacon for upgrading the joint Islamic action in the various fields
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