Thread: Islamic Nations Push to End Free Speech at UN-Update

Islamic Nations Push to End Free Speech at UN
Wednesday, December 17, 2008 1:30 PM

GENEVA — Islamic proposals to ban criticism of religion, which have gathered strength since the publication of cartoons of the prophet Muhammad two years ago, threaten to derail an already troubled U.N. anti-racism conference planned for next year.

The European Union rejects suggestions by Algeria — backed by other Muslim and African countries — that limits on free speech are needed to stop the publication of offensive articles and images.

Supporters of the proposal, who have been pushing for such a ban to be included in international anti-discrimination charters, want it discussed in April at a high-level United Nations anti-racism meeting in Geneva.

But European diplomats say that is out of the question.

"We have made it clear from the start that we will not negotiate," French diplomat Daniel Vosgien told The Associated Press on Wednesday. France currently holds the rotating presidency of the 27-nation EU.

Western diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the discussions, said the Islamic demands could wreck the meeting.

The U.N. expert on freedom of expression, Frank LaRue, has criticized so-called "anti-blasphemy laws" used to protect religion in some countries.

"Such laws are often used to prevent legitimate criticism of powerful religious leaders and to suppress the views of religious minorities, dissenting believers and nonbelievers, and are applied in a discriminatory fashion," LaRue said in a statement released Monday.

Israel and Canada have already said they will stay away because of concerns that the meeting will see a repeat of anti-Semitic outbursts that marred the first anti-racism conference Durban, South Africa, in 2001.

The United States has also indicated it may stay away from the meeting, dubbed "Durban II."

Dutch Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen said Tuesday his country would boycott if anti-Israel statements are not scrapped from draft texts being drawn up for the meeting.

http://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/un_rel ... 62888.html

The UN was supposed to be free discussion of problems between countries to prevent wars. Of course one of the problems is, these days, the theological wars between countries and even ethnic groups within one country. They are on US soil where it is permissible to stick out one's tongue or even throw a couple shoes which (according to GWB) is an expression of freedom of speech in a democracy like Iraq.
It is beginning to sound like the UN may be dissolving as I write this.

Originally Posted by vortex

It is beginning to sound like the UN may be dissolving as I write this.

With God's will, it just might evaporate!

UN Passes Islamic ‘Defamation’ Measure, But Critics Hail ‘Backlash’
Thursday, December 18, 2008
By Patrick Goodenough, International Editor

The 57-member Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) is spearheading the “defamation of religionâ€

“Religions, like all beliefs, cannot be said to have a reputation of their own" and cannot therefore be defamed.

The WHAT? There is no reason the rest of the world should be charged with flamboyant nut control, when the religion itself has done nothing to quash their murderous urges. Rather than worry about language not kind to a wayward way of thinking by radical Muslims, these characters should be doing their best to stop the insults to the rest of the world for what is a flagrant proof of the death of millions of earth-ball residents in genocide and religious wars.
If these characters have a problem with freedom of speech, no matter which way it turns, get off of US soil.
And, furthermore, if you can't defame a religion, then quit picking on Christians and Jews worldwide.

If these characters have a problem with freedom of speech, no matter which way it turns, get off of US soil.
And, furthermore, if you can't defame a religion, then quit picking on Christians and Jews worldwide.

Exactly right vortex! They don't see that it would mean taking away THEIR free speech will also.

The sooner the United Nitwits are sent packing the better off we will be!