UK and US vote against UN Quran burning ban resolution
2 min read
The UK, U.S., and EU opposed a UN resolution condemning Quran burnings as hate crimes.
The Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council passed the Pakistani-sponsored resolution this morning, but some Western nations objected.
The resolution calls it “offensive, disrespectful, a clear act of provocation and a manifestation of religious hatred to deliberately and publicly burn the Holy Quran or any other holy book with the intent to incite discrimination, hostility or violence, and affirming also that this act shall be prohibited by law, in line with the obligations of states arising from international human rights law.”
At the 53rd UN Human Rights Council session, 28 countries voted for the resolution, 12 against, and seven abstained.
Algeria, Argentina, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Cameroon, China, Ivory Coast, Cuba, Eritrea, Gabon, Gambia, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Pakistan, Qatar, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Ukraine, UAE, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam supported the resolution.
Belgium, Costa Rica, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Romania, the UK, and the U.S. opposed the resolution.
The US and EU argued the resolution violates human rights and free expression.
Rashad Hussain, the U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, stated that “blasphemy” laws are unconstitutional.
“Such laws also fail to address the underlying causes of bigotry,” he said, urging “reinvigorate education and interfaith intercultural dialogue to confront hate speech.”
However, Michele Taylor, the U.S. ambassador to the council, said that the United States “strongly condemns the acts that have precipitated today’s discussion, including desecration of the Holy Quran on June 28,” referring to an incident in Sweden last month that sparked Muslim protests worldwide.
After the vote, Pakistani Ambassador Khalil Hashmi said the measure “does not seek to curtail the right to free speech” but seeks a “prudent balance” between it and “special duties and responsibilities.”
Hashmi stated a handful in the room opposed the public desecration of the Holy Quran or other sacred books. “They lack political, legal, and moral courage to condemn this act, which was the council’s minimum expectation.”
“This urgent debate was prompted by recent incidents of burning the Quran, which was the core of faith for well over one billion people,” Volker Turk told the Human Rights Council yesterday. These and other episodes appeared to have been contrived to convey contempt and inflame wrath; drive fissures between individuals; and incite, transforming differences of perspective into hatred and, perhaps, violence.”
Mr. Türk said limiting speech or expression must remain an exception, especially since those in power often abuse speech rules to silence debate on important matters. In rare occasions, rhetoric can encourage violent and discriminatory action.
“Every state should ban hatred that incites violence, discrimination, and hostility,” he stated.
You can buy us a coffee if you like our works:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/itup
