UN moves away from campaign against 'defamation of religion'

March 25, 2011

The UN’s Human Rights council has adopted a resolution endorsing religious freedom, distancing itself from previous resolutions that condemned “defamation of religion.”

The UN body made its decision after hearing arguments that the campaign against “defamation of religion” had encouraged religious fundamentalists, especially in the Islamic world, to raise accusations of blasphemy against those who denied their religious beliefs.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton welcomed the new UN resolution, noting that it “supports approaches that do not limit freedom of expression or infringe on the freedom of religion.”

 

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Further information:

• Human Rights Council upholds freedom of belief (UCAN)