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Saturday, March 31, 2007

Freedom of Speech- Part 2: Defamation of Religion

Well, well, the boys and girls over at the U.N. have been busy little bees. In addition to 6 other resolutions and 2 Decisions, the Human Rights Council, on March 30, adopted resolution (A/HRC/4/L.12) condemning defamation of religions. But, in and ongoing effort to placate followers of Islam, the only religion mentioned happens to be, you got it: ISLAM!


"On combating defamation of religions, adopted by a vote of 24 in favour, 14 against, and nine abstentions, as orally amended, the Council expresses deep concern at attempts to identify Islam with terrorism, violence and human rights violations; notes with deep concern 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; urges States to take resolute
action 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; also urges States to provide adequate protection against acts of hatred, discrimination, intimidation and coercion resulting from defamation of religions, 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; further urges all States to ensure that all public officials, including members of law enforcement bodies, the military, civil servants and educators, in the course of their official duties,
respect different religions and beliefs and do not discriminate against persons on the grounds of their religion or belief, and that any necessary and appropriate education or training is provided; invites the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial
discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance to regularly report on all manifestations of defamation of religions and in particular on the serious implications of Islamophobia on the enjoyment of all rights; and requests the High Commissioner for Human Rights to report to the Human Rights Council on the implementation of this resolution at its sixth session.
So, what about other religious faiths? What about defamation and incitement to hatred and violence of Jews and Christians or Buddhists by Muslims? Where's mention of that? Of course, if it had included these other religions, the Resolution would never have passed.

And can anyone guess who voted in favour of the Resolution? Let's see: Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cameroon, China, Cuba, Djibouti, Gabon, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Pakistan, Philippines, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Tunisia.The 14 member states who voted against were: Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Guatemala, Japan, Netherlands, Poland, Republic of Korea, Romania, Switzerland, Ukraine and United Kingdom. And the 9 abstentions: Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Ghana, India, Nigeria, Peru, Uruguay and Zambia. Not much of a surprise, other than Mexico.

Ironically, Blazing Cat Fur left the following comment on March 30:

"I remember when the cartoon controversy was hot, Muslims protested outside Queen's Park (Seat of provincial gov't). One women, obviously a resident in Canada for some years was quoted as saying. The U.N. should be brought in to set limits on free-speech. I mean what can you say to someone who thinks that way??"

What do you say when it actually happens??

6 comments:

Blazingcatfur said...

Brutal, the U.N. has clearly outlived its usefulness. What a sham, it is a corrupt an organization as could be imagined.

MUD said...

I admire your ability and willingness to sort through their crap to write such a post. Most of us in the US have just dismissed the UN as a failed project. Hell, most of the people out there won't get off their but and go vote in the Primary election. I am running for the school board and I'll bet less than 20% of the people will even bother. Why do I bother? because I care.
MUD

Anonymous said...

You stupid cunt.

Has the UN never breathed a word about anti-semetism?

*sigh*

I look forward to the day when everybody stops believing in higher beings.

Incognito said...

I just found it interesting, BCF, after hearing about that woman's comment, that the U.N. would actually go ahead and adopt such a Resolution. If you go to their website and look at all the Resolutions they have passed, you'll find that most have done not a whit of good. But with this one, you can see they are just running scared, like many European governments with large Islamic populations.

And thank you MUD, Like you I care. It is a failed organization that could have been great.
And good luck with your run for School Board. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!

Anonymous said...

Well, they almost managed to stop a million people getting killed in Iraq in the last few years.

You're about to lose a war because of your useless military/political incompetence. In two years time you'll be wishing you did what the UN told you to do before you went storming into a war you can't win (again).

I hope the Iranians hang on to our 15 soldiers until we get out of their politics. At least they are treating them well, and hey, guess what? They're even thinking of putting them on trial! A lot more than Guantamo Bay inmates seem to be getting (well, they had to wait 5 years for one, nice).

Are you a Jew?

Blazingcatfur said...

Lamebent, are you for real, do you have a drinking problem or some other mental or physical deficiency we are not aware of? Are you perhaps impotent? Please tell us what makes you act this way.