The United Nations Human Rights Council announced that it will hold an emergency session this week to discuss the burning of the Qur’an in front of a mosque in Sweden, at the request of Pakistan to discuss the matter urgently.

“The discussion on the rise of religiously motivated hatred will likely take place later this week,” Geneva-based council Spokesman Pascal Sim told a news conference.

He added: “Pakistan has asked to discuss the issue” on behalf of many members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.

Prior to this announcement, Pakistan requested that the burning of the Qur’an be discussed urgently in the Council.

On June 28, a man of Iraqi origin burned the pages of a copy of the Qur’an in front of the Stockholm Grand Mosque, after the Swedish police granted permission to organize a demonstration that coincided with Eid al-Adha.

This incident sparked outrage in the Islamic world. Turkey, which is blocking Sweden’s accession to NATO, immediately denounced the “despicable act.

On Monday, Pope Francis expressed his “anger and disgust” at the burning of the Qur’an, saying that allowing it to be “rejected and condemned.”

Source: National Iraqi News Agency