15 November 2011

U.N. Third Committee Makes Decisive Break from “Defamation of Religion”

Human Rights First applauds the United Nations’ Third Committee’s adoption of a text on combating religious intolerance that does not include the harmful concept of “defamation of religion,” an historic step that brings the text closer to final passage in the full General Assembly in coming weeks.

“If this text is adopted by the full General Assembly, it would mark a decisive break from the polarizing focus in the past on defamation of religions.” said Human Rights First’s Tad Stahnke. “Governments should now focus on concrete measures to fight religiously-motivated violence, discrimination, and other forms of intolerance, while recognizing the importance of freedom of expression.” [Human Rights First] Read more [via Religious Watch]