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| Islamic Bloc Scores 'Defamation of Religions' Resolution at UN |
| 2007-12-20 |
| Alongside a resolution adopted by the U.N. General Assembly this week calling for a moratorium on the death penalty, the world body passed a raft of other human rights-related motions. One of them, introduced by Islamic nations, focuses on combating the "defamation of religions." Resolutions on the human rights situation in North Korea and Iran also passed, although dozens of countries -- including human rights violators Cuba, Sudan, Syria and Zimbabwe -- voted against the motions. An annual resolution on "the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination" also passed by an overwhelming margin, with only the United States, Israel, and three small Pacific island nations voting "no." There were four abstentions. The motion on defamation of religions has been a priority for the 57-nation Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) since 9/11. It took on new impetus following a Danish newspaper's publication in 2005 of cartoons satirizing Mohammed. Introduced by Pakistan on behalf of the OIC, it passed on Tuesday by a 108-51 margin, with 25 abstentions. As with many of the other votes, the U.S. lined up with democracies in Europe, Asia and elsewhere against developing nations, including repressive regimes. Although the resolution refers to defamation of "religions," Islam is the only religion named in the text, which also takes a swipe at counter-terrorism security measures. It expresses alarm about "discrimination" and "laws that stigmatize groups of people belonging to certain religions and faiths under a variety of pretexts relating to security and illegal immigration." Muslim minorities are subjected to "ethnic and religious profiling ... in the aftermath of the tragic events of 11 September 2001," it says. The resolution decries "the negative projection of Islam in the media" and voices "deep concern that Islam is frequently and wrongly associated with human rights violations and terrorism." OIC secretary-general Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu earlier this month addressed an international conference on "Islamophobia," held in Turkey, and told the gathering that freedom of expression was being used as a cover in the West to promote anti-Islam sentiment. The OIC soon will release its first-ever annual report on "Islamophobia." 'Flawed and divisive' On a number of the General Assembly resolutions passed Tuesday, the U.S. stood in the minority, including one dealing with practices that contribute to "fuelling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance," and another on a report on preparations by the U.N.'s Human Rights Council for a major conference on racism, scheduled for 2009. |
| Posted by:tipper |
| #7 Im sure the claims of Israel that their religion is defamed will get a fair hearing. Not. If the western world had any balls the cudgel to pummel Islam has just been handed out. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2007-12-20 23:56 |
| #6 HOT AIR > GATEWAY PUNDIT - ADHMADINEJAD whilst at Haj quoted as saying ISLAM'S AIM [soul?] IS TO ESTABLISH GLOBAL GOVERNMENT. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2007-12-20 21:52 |
| #5 The UN is obviously the locus of Blair's Law - the ongoing process by which the world's multiple idiocies are becoming one giant, useless force. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2007-12-20 21:43 |
| #4 And moving the UN to the dustpile of history has arrived. Did Rage Boy deliver the Keynote speech on defamation? The irony of the Paleos self determination by suicide is, of course, lost on them. Ticket and tow them all out of the country. |
| Posted by: Phinater Thraviger 2007-12-20 21:40 |
| #3 What religion do the words "Allahu Akbar!" refer to when the ones uttering those words are killing innocent people, considered infidels. Whether these actions are being carried out on airplanes over Manhattan, subways in London, Spain, or in the Philippines. The atrocious religion of Islam. Again, Muslims should not be allowed near any form of public transportation. THAT should be the resolution being passed in the UN. |
| Posted by: www 2007-12-20 20:47 |
| #2 Sounds like their annual end of the year clearance sale... |
| Posted by: tu3031 2007-12-20 20:46 |
| #1 frequently and wrongly associated with human rights violations and terrorism. Wrongly? You have to be kidding me. No one in the UN has read the Koran? No one sees the daily bombings and obligatory beheadings, hangings, and stonings? Out of the 18 major conflicts, Islam is to blame for 16 and the UN has no data? Curse you UN, tower of Babel. Truth costs time, but Ignorance is free. Accountability will be harder now because you even let this on your floor. You have no moral or legal pretext UN. |
| Posted by: newc 2007-12-20 19:10 |