ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday strongly condemned the latest `senseless and deeply offensive act of desecration` of the Holy Quran, that took place on September 23 in The Hague, the Netherlands, outside the embassies of OIC member countries, including Pakistan.

`It is a deliberately provocative and Islamophobic act that has hurt the sentiments of Muslims around the world. Such acts cannot be condoned under the guise of freedom of expression, opinion, and protest,` Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

It is important for the international community to raise its voice against Islamophobia and work together to promote interfaith harmony.

This was the spirit behind the resolution passed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2022, marking March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia, it noted.`Pakistan`s concerns have been conveyed to the Dutch authorities. We urge them to be mindful of the sentiments of the people of Pakistan and Muslims worldwide and to take active steps to prevent such hateful and Islamophobic acts,` the statement added.

OIC demands action The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation has strongly condemned the provocative act of desecration of a copy of the Holy Quran in The Hague, an OIC statement said on Sunday.

`The OIC General Secretariat condemns in the strongest terms the provocative act of desecration of a copy of the Holy Quran, which was perpetrated on 23 September 2023, in front of the Embassies of some OIC Member States in The Hague, the Netherlands,` it said on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The OIC General Secretariat calls on the Dutch authorities to take necessary measures against such provocative acts, whichconstitute acts of religious hatred, in violation of international law, and to prevent their recurrence.

Saudi Arabia also condemned the deeply offensive act of a Dutch far-right activist at a demonstration in The Hague, saying that such `recurring acts cannot be justified under any circumstances`.

`The Ministry of Foreign Af fairs reiterates the kingdom`s strong condemnation of these reprehensible and recurring acts that cannot be justified under any circumstances. Such acts clearly promote hatred, exclusion, and racism, and directly contradict international efforts to promote values of tolerance, moderation, and the rejection of extremism,` it said in a statement on Sunday.

Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi also denounced the desecration of the Holy Quran and called for `urgent and effective international steps to confront these aggressive and provocative actions against Muslims`.