October 31, 2005

Draft Resolution on Combating defamation of religions

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This infamous resolution of the General Assembly (and the Commission on Human Rights,) which claims to be about the defamation of religions in general but mentions only Islam, indicates the power of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) at the UN. It is a rare example of a resolution that no other state is prepared to co-sponsor (openly and actively advocate.) And the OIC doesn't care. Yemen, who acted on behalf of the OIC, explained the intention behind the resolution as an effort to implement the results of 2001 UN Durban racism Conference. Egypt said it was only about respect for religion. It was adopted, but less than half of UN member states were prepared to vote for it. (88 for, 52 against, 23 abstentions) The opposition came out of the closet directly on the subject of Islamic exclusivity. Canada objected that the resolution "stressed protection of one religion above all others" and that it was concerned with "the protection of religion rather than the rights of adherents to the religion." Guatemala objected that the selection of only Islam meant the resolution "excludes the followers of other beliefs who are victims of human rights violations just because they profess a different religion than one recognized by state." Their objections fell on deaf ears.