http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/art ... AD975TOK00

 

http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews ... 0220090326

 

 

 

"The U.N.'s top human-rights body approved a proposal by Muslims nations Thursday urging passage of laws around the world to protect religion from criticism.

 

The proposal put forward by Pakistan on behalf of Islamic countries with the backing of Belarus and Venezuela had drawn strong criticism from free-speech campaigners and liberal democracies.

 

A simple majority of 23 members of the 47-nation Human Rights Council voted in favor of the resolution. Eleven nations, mostly Western, opposed the resolution, and 13 countries abstained.

 

Muslim nations have argued that religions, in particular Islam, must be shielded from criticism in the media and other areas of public life. They cited cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad as an example of unacceptable free speech.

 

Opponents of the resolution included Canada, all European Union countries, Switzerland, Ukraine and Chile.

 

The council is dominated by Muslim and African countries. Its resolutions are not binding, but are meant to act as recommendations for U.N. member states on issues of human rights."

 

 

 

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I am surprised to not have seen this topic here. And even more surprised not to have seen much about it in the media in my country.

 

"It called on states to ensure that religious places, sites, shrines and symbols are protected, to reinforce laws "to deny impunity" for those exhibiting intolerance of ethnic and religious minorities, and "to take all possible measures to promote tolerance and respect for all religions and beliefs"."

 

 

 

Now, I'm an agnostic person, but born in a christian country. I have no problem if you belong to religion x, but it pisses me off that if it were to be implemented in my country, i could possibly go to jail or get fined for criticizing a religion. And i do feel somehow, that this is mostly meant for Islam. I don't like any religion, i can agree with some things - but that's it.

 

Why shouldn't i be able to criticize Islam for example? If i for one, don't agree on the topic of abortion in Islam, i shouldn't be able to say what i think?

 

 

 

How the hell does this go hand in hand with freedom of speech and human rights? It is my bloody right to voice my opinion.

 

The UN is a complete joke for me now (i don't know a lot about UN, but this looses all my respect for them).

 

I'm happy tho, that my country did the right thing and voted against it.

 

 

 

Discuss on what you think about this, and if this law were to be implemented in your nation, how would you feel/react?

That's stupid. I criticize my own religion all the time. Because of how much stupidity has gotten into it. And because of some interesting translation errors in the bible. Oh, and the fact that the Bible says God hates figs.

 

 

 

Yadda yadda, that's stupid. At least it's only a "recommendation".

Ridiculous.

if this law were to be implemented in your nation, how would you feel/react?

 

 

 

I'd break it openly and obscenely.

if this law were to be implemented in your nation, how would you feel/react?

 

 

 

I'd break it openly and obscenely.

 

 

 

Agreed. Everything in this world is criticized, and needs to be criticized. You simply can't have however many religions in this world, and not expect one to be challenged.

Scary that this passed. But stuff like this is happening - the image of Allah was censored in a new south park episode :/

"It is individuals who have rights, not religions,"

 

Quoting Canada's representative speaking in the Reuter's article. I think this is the best way to sum up my opposition to the ruling. Also, I believe Germany, representing the European Union, stated that the same effect could have been attained by introducing new individual rights instead of giving the rights to religions. EDIT: Here it is:

 

 

 

Addressing the body, Germany said on behalf of the European Union that while instances of Islamophobia, Christianophobia, anti-Semitism and other forms of religious discrimination should be taken seriously, it was "problematic to reconcile the notion of defamation (of religion) with the concept of discrimination".

 

 

 

"The European Union does not see the concept of defamation of religion as a valid one in a human rights discourse," it said. "The European Union believes that a broader, more balanced and thoroughly rights-based text would be best suited to address the issues underlying this draft resolution."

Yet criticizing atheism and whatnot is perfectly fine, I suppose?

Yet criticizing atheism and whatnot is perfectly fine, I suppose?

 

 

 

Your opinion expressed in this snarky comment is preposterous. Begone godless heathen! May God have mercy on your tainted soul.

Yet criticizing atheism and whatnot is perfectly fine, I suppose?

 

 

 

Your opinion expressed in this snarky comment is preposterous. Begone godless heathen! May God have mercy on your tainted soul.

 

I just read the first sentence and thought you were being serious. :lol:

 

:wall:

Yet criticizing atheism and whatnot is perfectly fine, I suppose?

 

 

 

Your opinion expressed in this snarky comment is preposterous. Begone godless heathen! May God have mercy on your tainted soul.

 

I just read the first sentence and thought you were being serious. :lol:

 

:wall:

 

 

 

Ah, I hoped I wouldn't have to explain the joke later.

This does not surprise me. Because of the nature of the UN, the arab states often force through resolutions that are; put simply, crazy. As usual people will ignore this one and move on.

Since when is 23 the "majority" of 47?

May not count the ones who abstained.

This is why we should part ways with them, Screw the UN :thumbdown:

Since when is 23 the "majority" of 47?

Eh, 23 for, 11 against, and 13 abstained...23 is the bigger of those 3 numbers.

nothing really they can do to stop it its the right of free speech.

 

 

 

i'm surprised the united states isn't on the opposition list

Doesn't mean anything. International law like this is rarely ever enforced, and I suspect that this will never receive enforcement except by the countries that wanted it passed. It's not like they allow criticism already anyway, this just enforces their ability to enforce it in their own countries. What's even scarier? People in a lot of the southern states value religion just as much as these Muslim countries:

 

 

 

http://www.gallup.com/poll/114211/Alaba ... ommon.aspx

Doesn't mean anything. International law like this is rarely ever enforced, and I suspect that this will never receive enforcement except by the countries that wanted it passed. It's not like they allow criticism already anyway, this just enforces their ability to enforce it in their own countries. What's even scarier? People in a lot of the southern states value religion just as much as these Muslim countries:

 

 

 

I hope you are right. I'm sick of this [cabbage].

 

 

 

What happened to tolerance and the "religion" of "peace" ?

 

 

 

Soon enough this will become Sharia and Europeans will be all the more sorry. Oh yes we all know about Europe's policy of appeasment.

 

 

 

I still remember something that happened a few years ago in Afghanistan - one of the largest Buddha statues, stone carved and many thousands of years old was demolished by Islamic extremists.

 

 

 

Why do these people DEMAND special treatment. I don't see Christians or Jews doing these, even as a collective religion/group/community.

Since when did the UN actually have any authority over anyone?

 

 

 

Suggest that everyone ignore this and defile their nearest place of worship.

 

 

 

 

 

Why do these people DEMAND special treatment. I don't see Christians or Jews doing these, even as a collective religion/group/community.

 

 

 

I'd say the formation of Israel was pretty special treatment for them.

 

 

 

This is a bad resolution, but I doubt it will affect me. And even if it did, I don't see the ability to insult religions as an important part of my life. Sure, you can go on about free speech, but I don't really mind.

It's a stupid recommendation and obviously won't fly in Australia (or any other western country for that matter).

 

 

 

Every religion or belief system should be open to criticism. Anyone who doesn't like that concept needs to grow up and come to terms with the reality that not everyone agrees with them.

Wait... does this mean that if I say I'm a Jedi... NOBODY CAN SAY IT'S NOT TRUE?!?

 

 

 

YES!! YES!! =D> =D> =D> =D>

This is taking it too far. People have a right to express concerns/opinions, especially in these days of extemists. :-s

I think people/organisations that are afraid of embracing and addressing criticism must secretely realise the critics have a point. Terrifying that people out there believe free speech can be put on hold for the sake of religion, but hardly surprising given the way religions are radicalising.