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Religion & Law

: Religion Clause

UN Human Rights Council Calls for End To Religious Defamation

By Howard Friedman

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According to yesterday's International Herald Tribune, the United Nations Human Rights Council has passed, by a vote of 21-10, a resolution on Combating Defamation of Religions that was proposed by the Organization of the Islamic Conference [full text, word doc]. The resolution, expresses concern over "attempts to identify Islam with terrorism, violence and human rights violations,"and urges countries "to prohibit the dissemination, including through political institutions and organizations, of racist and xenophobic ideas and material aimed at any religion or its followers that constitute incitement to racial and religious hatred, hostility or violence."

Meanwhile, a group of 31 human rights, civil rights and press organizations called on the Human Rights Council to reject another amendment offered by the Organization of the Islamic Conference. The resolution would require the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression to "report on instances where the abuse of the right of freedom of expression constitutes an act of racial or religious discrimination." The statement by the concerned organizations argues: "The role of the Special Rapporteur is not to look at abusive expression, but to consider and monitor abusive limits on expression." (IFEX Press Release, 3/28).

Full post as published by Religion Clause on March 28, 2008 (boomark / email).