The UN Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) has adopted a resolution on 'Combating defamation of religions, tabled by Pakistan on behalf of the OIC countries, despite opposition by European Union and the US.
The resolution was adopted with 29 countries in favour, 16 against and 7 abstaining. All EU members, US and Australia voted against the resolution. India chose to abstain on the initiative, while China and Russian Federation voted in favour.
Introducing the resolution in the meeting here at the UN Commission on Human Rights, Pakistan's Permanent Representative Shaukat Umer said that no religion preaches violence, hatred and acrimony against people of other religions or cultures.
He said that negative stereotyping of any religion as propagating violence or associating it with terrorism constitutes defamation.
Shaukat Umer drew the attention of the Commission to the continuing trend of defamation of Islam and the discrimination faced by Muslims and people of Arab descent in many parts of the world, which was aggravated in the aftermath of the tragic events of September 11, 2001.
He specifically highlighted the fact that UN Special Rapporteur on Racism has reported an increase in 'Islamophobia'.
The adoption of the resolution sends a clear message to the international community that discrimination against and stereotyping of religions, particularly Islam, is a reality and must be combated vigorously. This sentiment is shared by a vast cross-section of international community, except the governments of some western countries, he added.
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