The OIC Independent Permanent Human Rights Commission (IPHRC) expresses its deep concern and strong disappointment at the Islamophobic statement made by Mr. Milos Zeman, President of Czech Republic on 26 May 2014, that "Islamic ideology rather than individual groups of religious fundamentalists was behind violent actions similar to the gun attack at the Jewish Museum in Brussels". The Commission stated that the statement was based on stereotypes against Islam, was conceptually false, factually wrong and misguiding. The Commission further condemns this statement as a clear manifestation of hatred that constitutes incitement to hostility and violence as stipulated in article 20 of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The IPHRC reaffirms the proclamation made in numerous United Nations declarations including the latest resolution A/RES/68/127 adopted by the 68th Session of the UN General Assembly that "no religion should be equated with extremism and violence". The Commission invites the UN Human Rights Council and relevant bodies of the Council of Europe and European Union to pay due attention to this development and to take it up within their monitoring mechanisms in order to denounce this type of derogatory statements as well as to urge all political leaders to avoid such rhetoric that incite hatred, discrimination and violence against persons and groups based on their religion or belief.
