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Canadian Muslim group decries efforts to curtail free speech
The Muslim Canadian Congress (MCC) has expressed disappointment at the move by a number of Islamic countries to force the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) into approving a resolution curtailing freedom of speech in the name of protecting religion.The resolution approved at the UNHRC was initiated by the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) under the title Combating Defamation of Religion. The MCC said the OIC resolution is nothing more than a cover to silence opponents of Islamist oppression inside Muslim countries, as well as the West. The group pointed out that the UNHRC resolution, instead of protecting the right to freedom of conscience and religious expression, will become a tool in the hands of some countries and the world jihadi movement to terrorise the opponents of extremism. The move is a retrogressive step greatly undermining the rights of individuals who believe in questioning, evaluating and challenging religious dogma, according to the MCC. Many Islamic countries have no qualms in executing their Muslim citizens on trumped-up charges of apostasy and using it to instil fear in the hearts of Muslims who reject the man-made Sharia law of the 12th century being applied in the 21st, it pointed out. The MCC said the UNHRCs decision has little to do with protecting the rights of such individuals who are already vulnerable to threats by radicals and extremists. Very often these take the shape of death threats over perceived heresies and blasphemies against orthodox belief. It will merely strengthen the hands of fanatics who do not believe in tolerating dissent within religious discourse. The MCC is asking the Canadian government to follow the example of Britain in repealing blasphemy laws. Such restrictions on freedom of religion are no longer justified in pluralistic societies guaranteeing freedom of belief and conscience, including the right to question religious doctrine, monotheistic or otherwise. The Canadian group said that laws that justify slavery, polygamy, second-class status of women and death penalty for apostates and homosexuals, should best be left as part of history, not the future. Posted by: Fred 2008-04-13 |
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