Int’l rights groups say no to Egypt UN resolution against “abuse of religion”
Nov 18th, 2009 | By Bikya Masr Staff | Category: Egypt, NewsCAIRO: As Egypt attempts to move towards pushing the United Nations to adopt a resolution prohibiting the “abuse of religions,” a number of international rights and religious groups have come out opposed to such measures. The group of some 100 organizations, including Coptic, Islamic and international rights groups, have considered the proposed resolution “incompatible with the fundamental freedoms of individuals to express their views and ideas peacefully.”
Cairo has been pushing for a UN resolution after Danish cartoons sparked widespread anger and demonstrations across the region a few years ago. Coupled with the recent tension created after Egyptian Marwa el-Sherbini was murdered in a German courtroom, Egypt believes it is time for a new international law prohibiting the “defamation” of religion and religious figures must be addressed.
The America in Arabic news agency reported that the organizations opposed to the measure, notably Human Rights Watch (HRW), The Jewish Anti-Defamation League, Freedom House, the Islamic American Congress and a number of other Egyptian and Arab Organizations, issued a statement saying that “such a resolution is just a support to the local laws against abuse of religions and religious feelings, which are often used by governments to punish the peaceful expression of beliefs and ideas, whether political or religious.”
The statement emphasized that legal efforts alone cannot support an environment of respect and religious freedom, so these governments should be committed to encouraging civil discourse, with emphasis, at the same time, on freedom of expression and thought.
For his part, Michael Munir, President of the International Coptic Union and Copts of the United States said he was not involved in this matter and does not know about it and has “not been formally introduced to participate or debate, so that the Coptic organizations abroad would announce their participation whether by the rejection or acceptance.”
Egypt is struggling with a recent bout of sectarianism, especially after an earlier report stated an international Christian organization called on American President Barack Obama to end the “raping” of Coptic girls by Muslims.
**reporting by Mohamed Abdel Salam
BM
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I’m reading with great disbelief that the Jewish Anti-Defamation League is against such a resolution!! They are the first one’s who go into a hysterical fit if some slight critizism is voiced against Jews and/or Judaism.
They have worked extremely hard and tirelessly to force and coerce each and every European country to introduce respective laws. If I state in a public place in Switzerland that e.g. “some Jews are responsible for the financial crisis” I go to jail for a minimum of 3 years. The same applies to similar degrees in other European countries. The psychological oppression has gone so far in Europe (directed by the Zionists) that most of the people don’t dare to say a “boo” anymore – whether Israel commits war crimes like the ones in Lebanon or Gaza or whether it just builds more settlements and annexes more land … or kills a few Palestinian children.
But because most of the anti-Islamic propaganda is instigated by Zionists (NOT Jews) and their respective organizations I do naturally understand that they are against introducing such a resolution. Why should they shoot themselves in the foot???
Imagine this: Bernard Lewis, Levy-Cohen, Broder, Netanyahu, Lieberman, Rabbi Ovaida et al would have to stop smearing and bashing everything in sight that has the slightest smell of “Islam” … that would sure give them a heart attack or at least a temper tantrum
!!