UN rights council passes Islamic resolution on religious defamation
ICC Note
Is the UN human rights council the forum for Islam or is it the forum for civilized world to come together for promotion of human rights? Passing resolution protecting Islam without considering the plight of Christians who are victims of Islamic jihad from Ethiopia to Indonesia is unacceptable act of betrayal by the World body.
March 27, 2008 Geneva (IHT)-The top U.N. rights body on Thursday passed a resolution proposed by Islamic countries saying it is deeply concerned about the defamation of religions and urging governments to prohibit it.
The European Union said the text was one-sided because it primarily focused on Islam.
The U.N. Human Rights Council, which is dominated by Arab and other Muslim countries, adopted the resolution on a 21-10 vote over the opposition of Europe and Canada .
The document, which was put forward by the Organization of the Islamic Conference, “expresses deep concern at attempts to identify Islam with terrorism, violence and human rights violations.”
Although the text refers frequently to protecting all religions, the only religion specified as being attacked is Islam, to which eight paragraphs refer.
The EU said, “International human rights law protects primarily individuals in their exercise of their freedom of religion or belief, not religions or beliefs as such.”
Some 15 OIC members hold seats on the 47-nation council. All but Gabon , which abstained, voted for the resolution.
