LILLE, France: Saudi Arabia’s firm stand against the phenomenon of violence as well as religious, ethnic and cultural fanaticism came in for praise at an international symposium, which concluded here.

The participants of the symposium on "Media Coverage of Religious Symbols in the Light of Religious Law" hailed the Kingdom for its sustained efforts in tackling the extreme phenomena under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, local media reported on Monday.

Representatives from 16 European countries, a number of international organizations led by UNESCO, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Association of Islamic Universities participated in the event, which concluded on Sunday.

Saudi Arabia called for international resolutions to criminalize all acts of religious defamation and discrimination. The organizers thanked the Kingdom for its contribution to the symposium.

A group of experts will be formed to follow up the implementation of the Lille Declaration’s recommendations to respect religions, prevent their abuse and disseminate the culture of human rights. The declaration also demands that the United Nations and all regional and international organizations help in achieving the goals.