The UN must not give in to Islamic criticism

This spring the UN Human Rights Council will be hosting a large conference on racism. While it is praiseworthy to work against racism and discrimination, there is still ample reason to be on guard against the pressure from some Islamic countries at this particular conference.

For under cover of a noble purpose, representatives from a series of undemocratic regimes are trying to turn criticism of religion into a violation of human rights.

The very same countries that stone women and homosexuals in the name of religion and deprive their citizens the right of free speech are now trying to shut the mouths of people anywhere who dare to criticize Islam, Christianity and other religions. They must not succeed at this.

Daily violations

The Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) is leading the struggle to ban the “defamation of religion”. With support from China and Russia, representatives of dubious Islamic regimes are now occupying key positions and have a firm grip on the controversial UN conference.

The chairman of the planning committee, for instance, comes from Muammar Gaddafi’s Libya, and at the suggestion of Libya, Iran has become a member of the inner circle drafting the proposed final declaration of the conference.

It is hardly surprising that the Iranian theocracy gladly assumes such a task, considering the long list of transgressions perpetrated by the regime on a daily basis: Closures of critical newspapers, Internet censorship, jailing of journalists. Workers and students who protest face bans, imprisonment and torture.

Capital punishment is incurred for homosexuality and infidelity. Some of those condemned are even today executed in public by stoning or hanging. And now the mullahs intend to tell us that criticism of religion constitutes a violation of human rights. If this wasn’t such a serious issue, it would be obviously ridiculous. (...)

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Against the Durban Review Conference of the UN!

- What Does Freedom of the Press Mean to the OIC?

- Don’t Say a Word: A U.N. resolution seeks to criminalize opinions that differ with the Islamic faith


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• Urgent appeal: Support freedom of expression, oppose "defamation of religions"

• Joint NGO Statement on Danger of U.N. “Defamation of Religions” Campaign

• IFPS Launches Urgent Mission: Save Free Speech from Worldwide Threats

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- D.C. Watson: Is the “Religion of Peace” Being Defamed?

- UN Considers Proposal to Criminalize Defamation of Islam

• UN Human Rights Council banned Discussion of religious questions

• Incredulous UN Bans Criticism of Islam

• Jihad Against Free Speech

- Islamic states draw new battle lines over Freedom of Expression

- Petition for defence of individual rights at the UN Human Rights Council

- Growing opposition to the concept of "defamation of religion"

- How Some Europeans and the UN Are Helping Islamists Undermine Freedom

- The UN must not give in to Islamic criticism

- In the name of Islamophobia, will the OIC soon ‘Rule the Waves’ at the UN General Assembly and the UN Human Rights Council?

- Religion and Freedom of Expression in the Human Rights Council

- Criticism of religion is not blasphemy

- An Islamic Blasphemy Law? Let’s Call Their Bluff

- Islamic states draw new battle lines over Freedom of Expression

- Creeping Dhimmitude at the United Nations

- World’s Press Criticises UN Human Rights Council

- IHEU "ambushed" at Human Rights Council

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• Universal Human Rights and "Human Rights in Islam"

• Islamic Law vs Human Rights

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights

• Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam - Diverges from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in key respects

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Islam and Democracy: The theory - and the practice...

ALGERIA: Political killings, Censorship, Harassment & Intimidation

BAHRAIN: Executions, Abuses of detainees & Censorship

EGYPT: Censorship, Limited Judicial Independence & Police Tortures

IRAN: Torture, Repressed Minorities, Discriminated Women, Unfair Trials, Censorship & Executions

LYBIA: Censorship, Killings of Demonstrators & Prisoners

MOROCCO: Discriminated Women, Abused Prisoners, Migrants & Refugees

OMAN: Discriminated Migrants, Abused Woman & Domestic Workers, Trafficking in Human Beings

IRAQ: Violence against women, Thousands of killed Civilians & Executions

KUWAIT: Torture, Abuse of Migrant Workers & Executions

QUATAR: Violence against Women, Human Trafficking, Torture & ill-Treatment

TUNISIA: Censorship, Limited Judicial Independence, Torture & ill-Treatment

SAUDI ARABIA: Violence against Women, Migrant worker Abuse, Torture, Unfair Trials, Censorship & Executions

SYRIA: Censorship, Torture, Arbitrary Detention, Discrimination of Woman & Minorities

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Stoning, Flogging, Death Penalties & Cruel Judicial Punishments

YEMEN: Executions, Censorship, Political Prisoners & Unfair Trials