Danish Integration and Social Affairs Minister Takes a Stand Against Anti-Blasphemy Laws

According to The Copenhagen Post Karen Hakkerup, Denmark’s minister for integration and social affairs has ‘pulled out of a conference on religious radicalism’ due to the participation of a man who helped shape Pakistan’s anti-blasphemy laws at the same conference.

ICLA applauds this stand against blasphemy laws though it would be good to see politicians denouncing blasphemy laws from the podium at such conferences. It must be remembered that the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), of which Pakistan is a member state, seeks to encourage the implementation of similar laws on a global scale via United Nations resolution 16/18 and the Istanbul Process.

The 2012 Brussels Process that was initiated by ICLA at a conference in the European Parliament in July 2012 seeks to create a framework to oppose these efforts by the OIC. (...)