Combating Defamation of Religions

A/63/53 2008 944kb .pdf resolution begins on p.126, 16 item enumerated list, 3 pgs.

A/HRC/10/L.2 2009 approx 35kb, Microsoft Word format. 18 item enumerated list.

Both of these sources have other related documents available, visit them to learn more.
http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/refworld/rwmain http://www.eyeontheun.org/

[Emphasis added.]

Concern:
2008

1. Expresses deep concern at the negative stereotyping of all religions and manifestations of intolerance and discrimination in matters of religion or belief;
2. Also expresses deep concern at attempts to identify Islam with terrorism, violence and human rights violations and emphasizes that equating any religion with terrorism should be rejected and combated by all at all levels;
3. Further expresses deep concern at the intensification of the campaign of defamation of religions and the ethnic and religious profiling of Muslim minorities in the aftermath of the tragic events of 11 September 2001;
4. Expresses its grave concern at the recent serious instances of deliberate stereotyping of religions, their adherents and sacred persons in the media and by political parties and groups in some societies, and at the associated provocation and political exploitation;
   

2009

Noting with concern that defamation of religions, and incitement to religious hatred in general, could lead to social disharmony and violations of human rights, and alarmed at the inaction of some States to combat this burgeoning trend and the resulting discriminatory practices against adherents of certain religions and in this context stressing the need to effectively combat defamation of all religions and incitement to religious hatred in general and against Islam and Muslims in particular,

7. Expresses deep concern in this respect that Islam is frequently and wrongly associated with human rights violations and terrorism and in this regard regrets the laws or administrative measures specifically designed to control and monitor Muslim minorities, thereby stigmatizing them and legitimizing the discrimination they experience;



Action items:
2008

8. Urges States to take actions 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;
9. Also urges States to provide, within their respective legal and constitutional systems, adequate protection against acts of hatred, discrimination, intimidation and coercion resulting from the defamation of any religion, to take all possible measures to promote tolerance and respect for all religions and their value systems and to complement legal systems with intellectual and moral strategies to combat religious hatred and intolerance;

2009

10. Reaffirms that General Comment 15 of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, in which the Committee stipulated that the prohibition of the dissemination of all ideas based upon racial superiority or hatred is compatible with freedom of opinion and expression, is equally applicable to the question of incitement to religious hatred;
11. Strongly condemns all manifestations and acts of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance against national or ethnic, religious and linguistic minorities and migrants and the stereotypes often applied to them, including on the basis of religion or belief, and urges all States to apply and, where required, reinforce existing laws when such xenophobic or intolerant acts, manifestations or expressions occur, in order to deny impunity for those who commit such acts;
12. Urges all States to provide, within their respective legal and constitutional systems, adequate protection against acts of hatred, discrimination, intimidation and coercion resulting from defamation of religions, and incitement to religious hatred in general, and to take all possible measures to promote tolerance and respect for all religions and beliefs;
13. Underscores the need to combat defamation of religions, and incitement to religious hatred in general, by strategizing and harmonizing actions at the local, national, regional and international levels through education and awareness building;
14. Calls upon all States to exert the utmost efforts, in accordance with their national legislation and in conformity with international human rights and humanitarian law, to ensure that religious places, sites, shrines and symbols are fully respected and protected, and to take additional measures in cases where they are vulnerable to desecration or destruction;

Compare Item #2 from '08 with #7 from '09.

• attempts to identify Islam with terrorism, violence and human rights violations
• Islam is frequently and wrongly associated with human rights violations and terrorism

The source is easily identifiable.

• Three, Islam is deliberately equated with terrorism and extremism. Those whipping up frenzy against Muslims use fundamentalism as a pretext but they are really concerned about the growing influence of the educated, modern and moderate Muslims in Europe, and North America who are moving into mainstream politics and businesses. http://missions.itu.int/%7Epakistan/2005_Statements/CHR/stoicpope_21sep06.htm

In Moral Standing: the Complaint I established the fact that Fitna is one of the chief targets of the continuing campaign to impose censorship. Accurate description of the doctrines & works of Islam is broadly equated with "against acts of hatred, discrimination, intimidation and coercion resulting from defamation of religions, and incitement to religious hatred in general". When the Danish cartoons and Fitna were published, did Christian mobs chant threats & execrations? Did they attack embassies, shoot or stab religious workers or burn buildings?

Pointing out the the Qur'an's Jihad, genocide & terror enjunctions, confirmed by hadith & codified in Shari'ah, is not hate speech, neither is it racism. As if the remarks of Masood Khan were not enough, examine the condemnation issued by the Secretary General of the U.N.

“There is no justification for hate speech or incitement to violence,” Ban said in a statement. “The right of free expression is not at stake here.” Reuters

I detailed the hypocrisy of that statement in You’ve Been Mooned! The right of free expression is at stake whenever the U.N. and its appendant bodies are in session. They seek to criminalize the uttering & publishing of information essential to collective recognition of and defense against a barbarian campaign of genocidal conquest which has cost 270 million lives in the last 1400 years.

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