Statement by Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Office and Other International Organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Genna

Statement by Russian Permanent Representative to the UN Office and Other International Organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Gennady Gatilov, at the 53rd Session of the UN Human Rights Council during the urgent debate on acts of religious hatred:   July 11, 2023, Geneva   ️ We thank the OIC for holding an urgent debate on systematic manifestations of religious intolerance, the latest of which became the shameful burning of the Quran that was allowed by the Swedish authorities during the celebration of an important Muslim holiday - Eid al-Adha. 🇸🇪 We are shocked that the Swedish authorities gave permission to commit this provocation. We strongly reject such indulgence of religious radicals by official Stockholm. The explanations given in this regard by the Prime Minister of Sweden are unacceptable. 🇺🇦 Such acts take place not only in the EU. Recently, Ukrainian servicemen shared a video on the Internet featuring desecration of the Quran. We have brought this heinous act to the attention of the OHCHR. We regret that, as it usually happens, neither the OHCHR nor the High Commissioner bothered to give an adequate public assessment of this Ukrainian atrocity. ️ We condemn intolerance and incitement of religion-based hatred and hostility in “the Enlightened Europe” and other countries. Justifying such barbaric acts with references to the freedom of expression is unacceptable. ‼️ We call on the Western States to engage in a real fight against extremism and violations of religious rights in their countries, to stop legitimizing such acts under fake concerns for human rights. Источник: Russian Mission Geneva