US hypocrisy on free speech at United Nations

The United States has backed a new UN resolution on free expression which would be considered unconstitutional under its First Amendment — which protects freedom of expression and bans sanctioning of religions. [Index on Censorship] Read more

The First Amendment and Obama’s Administration On October 2, 2009, the U.N. Human Rights Council approved a resolution that was cosponsored by the United States and Egypt which called on states to condemn and criminalize “any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence."

The resolution also condemns "negative stereotyping of religions and racial groups", which can only mean that any criticism of Islam, and we know that Islam is the real issue here, will be seen as “negative stereotyping”. Furthermore, what will be perceived as “negative stereotyping” is to be decided subjectively by Muslims themselves. [Center for Inquiry] Read more [via Butterfliesandwheels.com]

Is the Obama Administration Supporting Calls to Outlaw Supposed Hate Speech? That's what it looks like, with this Joint U.S./Egypt draft U.N. Human Rights Council resolution (dated Sept. 2005). The resolution generally seems to be an attempt to urge more protection for free speech throughout the world, and some praise it for that; moreover, it lacks the exception for "defamation of religion" that some Muslim countries have urged.

.... But I'm worried that it might be a step backward for our own constitutional rights, because of what seems to be the U.S. endorsement of the suppression of .... "negative stereotyping of religions and racial groups." [huffingtonpost.com] Read more