Green Energy
By FRANK JORDANS (AP) – 1 day ago
The resolution has no effect in law but provides Muslim countries with moral ammunition the next time they feel central tenets of Islam are being ridiculed by Western politicians or media through "negative racial and religious stereotyping."
American diplomats say the measure — co-sponsored by Egypt — is part of the Obama administration's effort to reach out to Muslim countries.
Rights groups cautiously welcomed the resolution as an improvement on earlier drafts, but said Egypt was in no position to lecture other countries about free speech as it has a poor record on the matter.
"Egypt's cosponsorship of the resolution on freedom of expression is not the result of a real commitment to upholding freedom of expression," said Jeremie Smith, Geneva director of the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies.
"If this were the case, freedom of expression would not be systematically violated on a daily basis in Egypt," he said.
Others warned that the resolution appears to protect religions rather than believers and encourages journalists to abide by ill-defined codes of conduct.
"Unfortunately, the text talks about negative racial and religious stereotyping, something which most free expression and human rights organizations will oppose," said Agnes Callamard, executive director of London-based group Article 19.
"The equality of all ideas and convictions before the law and the right to debate them freely is the keystone of democracy," she said.
Although the resolution was passed unanimously, European and developing countries made it clear that they remain at odds on the issue of protecting religions from criticism. Some Asian and African countries had called for stronger condemnation of articles, cartoons and videos they believe defames Islam.
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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Green Energy
U.S. & Egypt-backed U.N. Resolution Chips Away at Free Speech
Always remember to hang/paste/tack/tape 'em high, folks...
UN rights body approves US-Egypt free speech text
By FRANK JORDANS (AP) – 1 day ago
GENEVA — The U.N. Human Rights Council approved a U.S.-backed resolution Friday deploring attacks on religions while insisting that freedom of expression remains a basic right. The inaugural resolution sponsored by the U.S. since it joined the council in June broke a long-running deadlock between Western and Islamic countries in the wake of the publication of cartoons depicting the Muslim Prophet Muhammad.
The resolution has no effect in law but provides Muslim countries with moral ammunition the next time they feel central tenets of Islam are being ridiculed by Western politicians or media through "negative racial and religious stereotyping."
American diplomats say the measure — co-sponsored by Egypt — is part of the Obama administration's effort to reach out to Muslim countries.
"The exercise of the right to freedom of opinion and expression is one of the essential foundations of a democratic society," the resolution states, urging countries to protect free speech by lifting legal restrictions, ensuring the safety of journalists, promoting literacy and preventing media concentration.
Rights groups cautiously welcomed the resolution as an improvement on earlier drafts, but said Egypt was in no position to lecture other countries about free speech as it has a poor record on the matter.
"Egypt's cosponsorship of the resolution on freedom of expression is not the result of a real commitment to upholding freedom of expression," said Jeremie Smith, Geneva director of the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies.
"If this were the case, freedom of expression would not be systematically violated on a daily basis in Egypt," he said.
Others warned that the resolution appears to protect religions rather than believers and encourages journalists to abide by ill-defined codes of conduct.
"Unfortunately, the text talks about negative racial and religious stereotyping, something which most free expression and human rights organizations will oppose," said Agnes Callamard, executive director of London-based group Article 19.
"The equality of all ideas and convictions before the law and the right to debate them freely is the keystone of democracy," she said.
Although the resolution was passed unanimously, European and developing countries made it clear that they remain at odds on the issue of protecting religions from criticism. Some Asian and African countries had called for stronger condemnation of articles, cartoons and videos they believe defames Islam.
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
-
The Obama Administration Takes on ‘Islamophobia’ and trashes the 1st Amendmendment From Will at The Other News: An unprecedented collaboration between the Obama administration and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC, formerly called the Organization...
- U.n.: Vote On 'religious Defamation' Resolution To Be Held In December
For the sixth year in a row, the U.N. General Assembly will vote in December on a resolution presented by the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) that calls on governments to act against “religious defamation.”Similar resolutions have been...
- Silencing Criticism Of Islam. Again. Or Still. Or Whatever.
Get the Useless Nitwits the HELL out of this country. at Getting Hot and Heavy: Speak not Ill of Thy Islamic Jihadis, Ye Infidels! From American Thinker today What a huge load of camel dung. If it becomes illegal to be critical of Islamic jackals, then...
- Un: Killing Slowly The Freedom Of Speech
In the path towards censorship of which Islam profits, we have now that the special rapporteur on freedom of speech from UN Council for Human Rights will, according to the new UNCHR resolucion:report on instances in which the abuse of the right of freedom...
- Eurabia Is Already Here: European Parliament Condemns Danish Cartoons
Via Spanish Eowyn/Blueslord, check out what the EU Parliament is up to: Regarding the Danish cartoons, MEPs and members of parliament from the 25 EU member states as well as the ten Euromed partner countries (Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Jordan,...