Statement of Condemnation Regarding the Burning and Desecration of the Holy Quran and Incitement to Religious Hatred

On Aug 15, 2026

The Entisaf Organization for Women and Children’s Rights condemns in the strongest terms the deliberate and provocative crime committed by American Jake Lang, who burned and desecrated a copy of the Holy Quran for the fifth time. This blatant attack on one of the holiest religious symbols for Muslims constitutes a deliberate incitement and provocation of the feelings of more than one billion Muslims worldwide, and perpetuates hate speech, intolerance, and Islamophobia.

The organization affirms that freedom of expression cannot be used as a cover for inciting religious hatred, discrimination, or hostility. The exercise of rights and freedoms is accompanied by responsibilities and obligations towards the rights, freedoms, and dignity of others. Article 20(2) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights explicitly states that any advocacy of national, racial, or religious hatred constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility, or violence and must be prohibited by law.

The organization also affirms that the freedom of religion or belief guaranteed in Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights does not grant immunity to practices targeting followers of a particular religion or inciting hatred and hostility against them. Rather, protecting the right to religion and belief requires states to take the necessary measures to protect individuals and groups from discrimination, incitement, and violence based on religion.

The organization notes that the Human Rights Council adopted Resolution A/HRC/RES/53/1 on combating religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility, or violence. This confirms that the international community views incitement to religious hatred as a human rights issue that must be addressed, not merely a difference of opinion or a normal exercise of freedom of expression.

The Entisaf Organization emphasizes that the desecration and burning of the Holy Quran within the context of hostile rhetoric targeting Muslims and their beliefs should not be separated from the environment that produces Islamophobic discourse, incitement, and discrimination, especially when the act is deliberately repeated with the aim of provoking and inciting hatred and hostility within societies with large Muslim populations.

The organization holds the US authorities responsible for fulfilling their obligations to prevent and combat incitement to religious hatred, to investigate acts that fall under the prohibition stipulated in Article 20(2) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and to hold perpetrators accountable when the elements of the crime are met under national law. It also calls for preventing the exploitation of constitutional freedoms as a tool to target and incite hatred against a religious group.

Furthermore, the organization urges that this crime not be treated as an isolated incident, especially given the repeated attempts by the same individual to burn and desecrate the Holy Quran, which confirms the deliberate and provocative nature of these actions. Recent reports have documented Lang’s attempts to burn the Quran in areas with Muslim communities in the United States, sparking protests and concerns about incitement against Muslims.

The Entisaf Organization calls upon the United Nations, the Human Rights Council, and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, along with Islamic states and international human rights organizations, to take a clear and unequivocal stance against the desecration of religious texts and sacred sites when coupled with hate speech, incitement to hostility, and discrimination. It also calls for an end to the policy of double standards in dealing with religious hate speech.

Furthermore, the organization urges relevant states and international organizations to activate international mechanisms for combating Islamophobia, religious intolerance, and hate speech, and to exert the necessary legal and diplomatic pressure to ensure accountability for actions that transcend the bounds of free expression and constitute incitement to hatred and religious hostility.

The Entisaf Organization emphasizes that insulting or desecrating the Holy Quran cannot diminish its sanctity and status among Muslims. Rather, it reveals the danger of intolerant and hateful rhetoric targeting religious symbols and beliefs. Respecting sacred sites, religions, and beliefs, and confronting incitement and hatred, is a collective responsibility incumbent upon states and the international community to preserve social peace, coexistence, and human dignity.

Issued by the #Entesaf Organization for Women and Children’s Rights

Sana’a – Republic of Yemen

August 15, 2026