Foreign secretary lodges strong protest with Dutch ambassador

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua on Thursday called the ambassador of the Netherlands to the Foreign Office and lodged a strong protest on the blasphemous tweets by Dutch Parliamentarian Geert Wilders.

The foreign secretary conveyed deep concern and disappointment of the government and people of Pakistan on continued and deliberate malicious attempts of the Dutch parliamentarian to hurt the sentiments of hundreds of millions of people across the world.

She underscored that such acts could not be allowed with impunity under the pretext of freedom of expression.

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“These discriminatory incidents spread hate and intolerance and provoke extremism and violence, which are prohibited under human rights laws and standards,” she said.

“Such remarks give rise to intolerance and extremism; such incidents will not be allowed in the name of freedom of speech.”

Tehmina called upon the Dutch government to condemn and take suitable measures to counter and prevent such actions from taking place.

The Dutch ambassador assured that concerns of the government and people of Pakistan would be conveyed to the concerned authorities in the Netherlands.

On the other hand, a European court has upheld conviction of a woman over blasphemous statements. The court said such statements did not fall under freedom of speech as it could lead to religious anarchy.