Sana'a: The Parliament Speaker, Yahya Ali Al-Ra'e, expressed appreciation and gratitude to the Spanish Parliament for its commendable position in condemning the burning of a copy of the Holy Qur'an. This came in a letter addressed by the Speaker of Parliament to the President of the Congress of Deputies of the friendly Kingdom of Spain, Francina Armengol, and the President of the Senate, Pedro Roll¡n Ojeda.
According to Yemen News Agency, Al-Ra'e expressed his deep thanks and appreciation for the principled positions taken by both chambers of parliament-the Congress of Deputies and the Senate-as well as the Spanish government, in condemning acts of burning the Holy Qur'an and repeated assaults on Islamic sanctities. He emphasized that these acts are provocative and unacceptable, inciting hatred, and affirmed that the burning of sacred books does not relate to freedom of expression but falls under acts of extremism, discrimination, and attempts to undermine peaceful coexistence.
The Speaker of Parliament highly valued the parliamentary and legislative steps taken, including reviewing laws and legislation and discussing amendments related to offenses against religious sentiments. These steps aim to achieve a balance that protects religious beliefs and prevents the misuse of 'freedom of expression' as a pretext for insulting religions.
He also appreciated the Spanish Parliament's support for international initiatives, particularly the 'Alliance of Civilizations,' and its efforts to promote values of tolerance and peace globally. The letter praised Spain's principled stances, its leadership, government, and people for supporting Gaza against Zionist aggression and for backing the causes of Arab and Islamic nations, especially the Palestinian cause.
These positions, according to the letter, reflect the deep cultural and historical ties between Yemen and Spain, embodying Spain's commitment to justice and human rights internationally. The Speaker of Parliament affirmed the Yemeni House of Representatives' desire to strengthen bilateral parliamentary cooperation and coordinate positions in international forums to serve global security and peace.