The desecration of the Quran outside a mosque in Stockholm, Sweden on Eid-Ul-Adha sparked widespread condemnation from several countries, including the European Union, and the Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for nationwide protests on Friday.

In a statement shared by Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N) on Twitter, Sharif mentioned that “honouring the Holy Quran is part of our faith, and we are all united for it.”

He urged people across the nation, regardless of their political affiliations, to come together and “unitedly give a message to the miscreants”. July 7 will be observed as Yaum-i-Taqaddus Quran, a day meant to “uphold the Quran’s sanctity”.Sharif also directed his party to “fully participate” in the protests.

He further emphasized that “misguided minds are following a nefarious agenda by spreading the negative trend of Islamophobia” and “peace-loving nations and leaders around the world who believe in co-existence should block the path of violent forces victim to Islamophobia and religious prejudices.” A joint Parliamentary session is scheduled on Thursday to formulate a national plan of action on the Sweden incident.

Sharif also mentioned passing a joint resolution on the incident and demanded Sweden’s government to take “notice of the Islamophobic and hateful narrative against the Muslim population in their country”.

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) also held an urgent meeting on the issue, and Sharif endorsed it. The OIC looks forward to actions to curb recurrences and the development of legal deterrence measures against such incidents.

Meanwhile, the UN Human Rights Council is to hold an urgent session to address the desecration incident following a request from Pakistan. The Prime Minister’s call for nationwide protests on Friday serves as a reminder that we must continue to stand united against Islamophobia and religious prejudice.

We must draw attention to the nefarious agenda of those that use hate to spread fear and violence in communities and around the world. We must also work together to develop legal deterrence measures that will protect people and religious symbols from being attacked, and the UN Human Rights Council must take the necessary steps to ensure that the perpetrators are held accountable. By taking these actions, we can create a world where everyone is respected, regardless of their faith or beliefs.