UN rights panel passes resolution against Islamophobia

ajtr

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UN rights panel passes resolution against Islamophobia

GENEVA: The UN Human Rights Council on Thursday narrowly passed a resolution condemning Islamophobic behaviour, including Switzerland’s minaret building ban, despite some states’ major reservations.

The resolution, which was criticised by the United States as “an instrument of division”, “strongly condemns... the ban on the construction of minarets of mosques and other recent discriminatory measures”. In a November referendum Swiss citizens voted to ban the construction of new minarets, a move that drew criticisms worldwide.

These measures “are manifestations of Islamophobia that stand in sharp contradiction to international human rights obligations concerning freedoms of religions”, said the resolution.

Such acts would “fuel discrimination, extremism and misperception leading to polarisation and fragmentation with dangerous unintended and unforeseen consequences”, it charged.Some 20 countries voted in favour of the resolution entitled “combating defamation of religions”, 17 voted against and eight abstained.

The resolution also “expresses deep concern ... that Islam is frequently and wrongly associated with human rights violations and terrorism”. It “regrets the laws or administrative measures specifically designed to control and monitor Muslim minorities, thereby stigmatising them and legitimising the discrimination they experience”.

Putting forward the resolution on behalf of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, Pakistan’s ambassador Zamir Akram said the specific references to Islam, the only religion mentioned in the text, “reflect the existing regrettable situation in some parts of the world where Muslims are being targeted”.

Babacar Ba, who represents the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, also told reporters that the resolution was a “way to reaffirm once again our condemnation of the decision to ban construction of minarets in Switzerland”. “This initiative… breaches religious freedom and rights of Muslims to build their places of worship as they wish to,” he added.

However, the European Union pointed out that the concept of defamation should not fall under the remit of human rights because it conflicted with the right to freedom of expression, while the United States said free speech could be hindered by the resolution.

“The European Union believes that reconciling the notion of defamation with discrimination is a problematic endeavour,” French ambassador Jean-Baptiste Matte said on behalf of the bloc.

Eleven Danaher, US ambassador to the UN, also slammed the resolution as an “ineffective way to address” concerns about discrimination. “We cannot agree that prohibiting speech is the way to promote tolerance, and because we continue to see the ‘defamation of religions’ concept used to justify censorship, criminalisation, and in some cases violent assaults and deaths of political, racial, and religious minorities around the world,” she said.

“Contrary to the intentions of most member states, governments are likely to abuse the rights of individuals in the name of this resolution, and in the name of the Human Rights Council,” added the US envoy. — AFP
 

Calanen

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These measures “are manifestations of Islamophobia that stand in sharp contradiction to international human rights obligations concerning freedoms of religions”, said the resolution.
Yeah Islam knows all about 'freedom of religion'. Try 'freely' practising your religion in Saudi Arabia.

The move towards all of this 'defamation of religion' and 'Islamophobia' legislation is to prevent all scrutiny and criticism of Islam, so that Islam can silence its Western critics by turning their own system against them.
 

Yusuf

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Your view of islam is restricted to what the extremists do. Too sad, you need to wake up from your ignorance.
 

johnee

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Yeah Islam knows all about 'freedom of religion'. Try 'freely' practising your religion in Saudi Arabia.

The move towards all of this 'defamation of religion' and 'Islamophobia' legislation is to prevent all scrutiny and criticism of Islam, so that Islam can silence its Western critics by turning their own system against them.
I tend to agree with you. The UN would look more credible if it passes a similar resolution against the Govt of self declared Islamic countries which practise bigotry by providing no rights to followers of other religions. Otherwise, this seems like ploy employed to suppress any scrutiny.
 

mehwish92

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Agree with Yusuf. Most Muslims are peace-loving human beings. We should have full rights to our religion, as should you.

On the other hand, I agree with Johnee as well.
 

Solid Beast

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Regimes who are using Islam as justification to carry out games of state for personal gain should not be criticized on the basis of theology and insensitive generalizations which amount to something akin to anti-semitism...they should be criticized on specific points, their actions and not religious beliefs that are somehow correlated with everything they do. If Saudi Arabia beheads people for proselytizing other faiths then that comes under a human rights issue which is also very much so covered under Islamic law which they are not following.

PS - The Taliban and various extremist groups around the world heavy with Muslims in their ranks who have spoiled the taste in all our mouths are completely antithetical to what Islam is really about. Also a few barbarians of the past who slew others for fun should not be looked at as examples of Islam either. Just need to look at your Muslim colleague at work, or the multitude of Muslims here to get a good grasp of our faith. I am just about as athiest as they come but even I recognize the positives of the religion I was raised up with, and I can also clearly see how Islam is being misused as a vehicle for cheap personal gain (noteworthy example : IRoP)

What this UN resolution protects people from is the abrasive and bigoted treatment Muslims have been receiving from bumpkins and hicks in America in their workplace and society, or the fascists in Europe who outlaw Turbans and Hijaabs or the building of houses of worship simply because they dislike a segment of their population.

Is this concept too hard to grasp? Maybe for a bunch of hicks in Mississippi, the same who murdered Sikhs because they looked like Muslims after 9/11, or the ones who think anyone of darker skin complexion is a "rag head", would you want your boss to say this to you? Or patrons to your business? Let's all think clearly for a second, Islam is not the enemy of India nor Indians, nor is Islam an enemy to civilization. Just read some history, all religions are great works of art and their core message should be enshrined and protected from the same people who were trodding on our backs in the subcontinent and pillaging our treasures not too long ago.
 
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