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Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter
Pan African Parliament president Chief Fortune Charumbira has accused European Union of hypocrisy and religious intolerance after it failed to rebuke its member, Sweden, for burning the Holy Quran, which was openly done with the protection of Stockholm’s law enforcement agencies.
Chief Charumbira said the Western bloc was in the habit of lecturing Africa and the Arab world about democracy and observance of human rights, yet it was on the forefront of flouting the same principles that it purported to uphold.
The PAP boss said this yesterday in Algeria while delivering a keynote address of the 17th Session of the Parliamentary Union of Islamic countries that was hosted by the Algerian National Assembly.
Earlier on, participants had taken turns to denounce the burning of Quran by Sweden, the Muslim sacred word of God done by some extremists led by Rasmus Paludan, leader of the Danish far-right political party Hard Line.
“I want to stand here and say we condemn and join you to condemn those people and country that are attacking Islam institutions and assets,” said Chief Charumbira.
“Be assured that Pan African Parliament is with you on this matter. We want to condemn in the strongest terms these attacks.
“What happened in Sweden baffles us because Europe often stands high and lecture to Africa and the Arab world about tolerance and the observance of human rights.
“They want to stand high on these issues. But to believe that the Swedish authorities gave the perpetrators who burnt the Holy Quran, permission and even police protection is surprising.
“The European community has been silent on this matter. It is a demonstration of clear religious intolerance from the preachers of tolerance.”
Chief Charumbira implored the Muslim bloc and PAP to be united given that they shared the same challenges, particularly against the onslaught from Western countries.
“So, when Europe stands up to speak about human rights, they are not genuine, their human rights are based on who is involved, so we must be united,” he said.
“They first colonised us and took all the wealth you see in Europe, it came from Africa, and they now continue on a different form and abuse Africa to the extent that they preach to us, like in Africa, and I know that the Muslim world will not accept that – homosexuality, they take that as a right.
“Shame on you Europe. They preach to us those abominable human practices which do not fit anywhere on earth.”
Turning to the host country, Algeria, Chief Charumbira said the North African country played a huge role in ensuring African countries gained independence.
“Algeria has a great history,” he said. “It is a liberator of this continent. I come from Zimbabwe, we got our independence in 1980.
“I can tell you that from 1960s, 70s, 80s, Algeria provided economic support and even military support to Zimbabwe, a country that is thousands of kilometres from here.
“They have done a lot for this continent and we must not forget them for that role. That will remain permanent that this a great country that is not selfish. It also look after brothers and sisters across the world.”
During his visit to Algeria, Chief Charumbira is expected to pursue ways to deepen cooperation between the continental legislature and the 54-member Tehran headquartered Parliamentary Union of Islamic Countries.
During the conference, Chief Charumbira will hold crucial meetings with other dignitaries who include Speaker of the Algerian National Assembly Mr Saleh Goujel.
Founded on June 17, 1999, some of the objectives of the organisation include introducing the sublime precepts of Islam and seeking to disseminate them while emphasising the various characteristics and humanism of the Islamic civilisation.
Online Reporter