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This Opinion was prepared by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in response to a request from the Chair of the Committee on Human Rights and Equal Opportunities for Men and Women of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Cyprus.

This Final Opinion was prepared by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) following a joint request from the Vice President of the Parliament of Montenegro and one of the Co-Chairs of the Committee on Comprehensive Electoral Reform.

On 18 December 2023, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) hosted a consultative meeting examining State practices and the role of civil society in relation to incidents of desecration of religious texts, including Quran-burning. The consultation was held during the annual meeting of ODIHR’s Panel of Experts on Freedom of Religion or Belief, and efforts were made to bring other actors with relevant experience and perspectives to the table. Thus, the meeting brought together actors ranging from academics working on issues related to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief (FoRB) and on intolerance against Muslims, representatives of Muslim communities and wider civil society, representatives of intergovernmental organizations, to representatives from OSCE participating States. It also achieved both a gender and intergenerational balance. This report will discuss why the consultation was held, provide background information as to the relevant legal and policy framework, and then present the discussions that were held and recommendations arising from the discussions.