UN anti-blasphemy measures

[tmesis2008]

UN anti-blasphemy measures have sinister goals, observers say

UNITED NATIONS - Islamic countries Monday won United Nations backing for an anti-blasphemy measure Canada and other Western critics say risks being used to limit freedom of speech.

While the current resolution is non-binding, Pakistan’s Ambassador Masood Khan reminded the UN’s Human Rights Council this year that the OIC ultimately seeks a “new instrument or convention” on the issue. Such a measure would impose its terms on signatory states.

Blasphemy according to one definition is impious utterance or action concerning God or sacred things.

blasphemy definition | Dictionary.com

However, it is of course taken to mean by many all and any criticism of religion.

That people can view events like the Danish Cartoon controversy or the publishing of The Satanic Verses and identify blasphemy as the problem beggars belief. The problem is clearly the violent reaction.

Criticism of opinions, secular or religious, is the cornerstone of free speech and this resolution is a direct attack on that. Non-binding though it is, I am appalled that it has gained majority support.

Christopher Hitchens on this resolution and free speech.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zbhe_6ReKhc&feature=related]YouTube - UnitedNationstan vs Free Speech - Sharia in U.S. & Europe[/ame]

[Clanrickard]

This is very bad news for the UN. The Human Rights Council has been hijacked by the OIC and some third world backers and they have been banging this drum for quite some time. With President Hopeandchange in the White House there isn't the backbone there once was to face down the fanatics. The EU is stultified with political correctness and trade agreements with Muslim countries. Strong voices are needed to argue for Free Speech in the face of a blatant attempt to get Islam put beyond the pale of criticism. The good thing is it will give people in the West, and particularly this country, pause for though about the sham the UN has become and maybe there will be real pressure for reform.

[lowtaxireland]

Typical. Of course, all the usual PC bellends will be delighted.

[slx]

Perhaps someone needs to point out that the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights covers freedom of speech:

From the preamble :

"Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people,"


Article 18

Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Article 19

Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

Then again, I suspect that many of the countries supporting such a measure also ignore this bit:

Article 21

Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.
Everyone has the right to equal access to public service in his country.
The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.

[Mazzy Maz]

This is unbeleiveable. In Ireland, for example, we've spent decades trying to put manners on the catholic church and, to a large extent, succeeded. Now this? This feels like a major, major step backwards to me.

[cHeal]

The UN should be abolished. Complete waste of time.

[TradCat]

D

Muslim countries say they are only trying to cut down of what they see as extensive bias against Islam in the West. In the lead-up to Monday’s vote, many referred, for example, to the 2005 publication of Danish cartoons that satirized Muhammad, and which touched off riots through the Muslim world.

But Muhammad is not God even to Muslims so blasphemy should not be an issue in his case. This is nothing other than a direct attack on the concept of free speech. If you can't handle a few cartoons then you are the problem not the cartoonist.

[Lao-Tse]

Blasphemy? No, it is not blasphemy. If God is as vast as that, he is above blasphemy; if He is as little as that, He is beneath it.

-- Mark Twain, from Albert Bigelow Paine, Mark Twain, a Biography (1912).

I suspect any being powerful enough to create and sustain the entire universe would have better things to do than get angry about what Richard Dawkins or Salman Rushdie has to say.

[Alterego]

Great news, and of course with the western world now relying on Arab finances to bail it out, now's the time to increase Muslim influence in the world politic.

[garlandgreen]

Not really. We can just what we always do when the UN passes resolutions we don't like. Ignore them