WASHINGTON – The Obama administration criticized proposed UN resolutions, sponsored by the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), an umbrella of 56 Muslim countries, to outlaw the defamation of religions, the Christian Post reported.
“Some claim that the best way to protect the freedom of religion is to implement so-called anti-defamation policies…I strongly disagree,” said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
“The protection of speech about religion is particularly important since persons of different faiths will inevitably hold divergent views on religious questions.”
Since 1999, the OIC has annually sponsored a defamation of religions resolution in the UN Human Rights Council.
In May, the Council adopted a non-binding resolution, proposed by Pakistan on behalf of the OIC, condemning religious defamation and calling for respect of all faiths.
The text calls for "protection against acts of hatred, discrimination, intimidation and coercion resulting from defamation of religions and incitement to religious hatred in general".
It urges states to ensure that religious places, sites and symbols are protected and to reinforce laws "to deny impunity" for those exhibiting intolerance of ethnic and religious minorities.
The OIC wants the UN to adopt a binding international covenant against the defamation of religions.
The Bush administration had led a global campaign to block the OIC resolution in the UN.
* Pro-Islam
Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights, Democracy and Labor Michael Posner suggested the OIC resolution "goes too far."
"The notion that a religion can be defamed and that any comments that are negative about that religion can constitute a violation of human rights to us violates the core principle of free speech."
Washington also claims that the anti-defamation resolutions are designed to specifically defend Islam and not all religions.
“Aside from Islam, the resolutions do not specify which religions are deserving of protection, or explain how or by whom this would be determined,” Leonard A. Leo, chair of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, told Congress last week.
Some Christian groups also oppose the resolutions, claiming they would be used against Christians and other religious minorities in Muslim-majority countries.
“Many Christians living in these [OIC] countries are already severely impacted by restrictive laws – especially those living under strict Shari’ah law,” claimed Open Doors USA President/CEO Carl Moeller.
“From the right to worship freely to the ability to share the Gospel, the Defamation of Religions Resolution threatens to justify local laws that already marginalize Christians."
Source: IslamOnline
“Some claim that the best way to protect the freedom of religion is to implement so-called anti-defamation policies…I strongly disagree,” said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
“The protection of speech about religion is particularly important since persons of different faiths will inevitably hold divergent views on religious questions.”
Since 1999, the OIC has annually sponsored a defamation of religions resolution in the UN Human Rights Council.
In May, the Council adopted a non-binding resolution, proposed by Pakistan on behalf of the OIC, condemning religious defamation and calling for respect of all faiths.
The text calls for "protection against acts of hatred, discrimination, intimidation and coercion resulting from defamation of religions and incitement to religious hatred in general".
It urges states to ensure that religious places, sites and symbols are protected and to reinforce laws "to deny impunity" for those exhibiting intolerance of ethnic and religious minorities.
The OIC wants the UN to adopt a binding international covenant against the defamation of religions.
The Bush administration had led a global campaign to block the OIC resolution in the UN.
* Pro-Islam
Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights, Democracy and Labor Michael Posner suggested the OIC resolution "goes too far."
"The notion that a religion can be defamed and that any comments that are negative about that religion can constitute a violation of human rights to us violates the core principle of free speech."
Washington also claims that the anti-defamation resolutions are designed to specifically defend Islam and not all religions.
“Aside from Islam, the resolutions do not specify which religions are deserving of protection, or explain how or by whom this would be determined,” Leonard A. Leo, chair of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom, told Congress last week.
Some Christian groups also oppose the resolutions, claiming they would be used against Christians and other religious minorities in Muslim-majority countries.
“Many Christians living in these [OIC] countries are already severely impacted by restrictive laws – especially those living under strict Shari’ah law,” claimed Open Doors USA President/CEO Carl Moeller.
“From the right to worship freely to the ability to share the Gospel, the Defamation of Religions Resolution threatens to justify local laws that already marginalize Christians."
Source: IslamOnline
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