Washington, DC -- Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY) is leading the fight against the onerous “Defamation of Religions” resolution in the United Nations General Assembly.  The resolution represents an effort to codify a right protecting religions from “defamation,” but not to protect an individual's right to believe.  The UNGA has adopted the “defamation of religions” resolution annually since 2005, but the last two years it passed with only a plurality of votes, meaning more “No” and abstentions than “Yes” votes.

Rep. Engel authored a bipartisan letter which is being sent to over 150 heads of state signed by 42 Members of Congress urging the General Assembly Member States to oppose the resolution.  A vote is expected at some point next month.  Rep. Engel states in the letter that the resolution which seeks to protect religion would instead lead to more intolerance and violence.  It would “threaten individual rights to freedom of religion and expression, and provide international support for domestic blasphemy laws that often lead to human rights abuses.”

"It is commendable for the UN to try and solve the very real problems of religious discrimination and hatred.  However, this would accomplish the opposite, as governments would have the ability to suppress and punish what they deem to be offensive speech about a favored religion or sect.  That is a very dangerous, very slippery slope to be treading upon and can lead to serious human rights abuses,” said Rep. Engel, a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

“I am pleased to say that our efforts are paying off and more countries are voting against the ‘Defamations of Religions’ resolution each year.   Religious intolerance and discrimination can best be fought by encouraging respect for the human rights of each person.  By silencing expression through restrictions on belief and speech only further promotes intolerance, discrimination, and all-too-often, violence,” said Rep. Engel.

The 11-term Congressman was the keynote speaker at a luncheon this week hosted by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom where he urged a group of permanent representatives to the U.N. from countries around the world to seek alternative methods to promote religious tolerance.  New laws curtailing speech are not the answer.  Instead, the implementation of existing laws fighting violence and religious intolerance is encouraged, and cross-faith understanding and respect for human rights and freedom of expression should be the lynchpin of revamped efforts to protect religious rights.

“This cycle of religious intolerance needs to end, and the UNGA has an opportunity to show leadership by rejecting these proposals.  I sincerely hope they take it,” said Rep. Engel.

 

The letter is below:

Dear (Head of State): 

 

We write to respectfully urge your country’s delegation to oppose a resolution on “combating defamation of religions” that the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is expected to consider this fall.  Sadly, this misguided resolution, which seeks to protect particular religions, religious symbols, and religious institutions from “defamation” or criticism, would exacerbate rather than solve the very real problems of religious intolerance, discrimination and violence.  Specifically, it would threaten individual rights to freedom of religion and expression, and provide international support for domestic blasphemy laws that often lead to human rights abuses.

International human rights law protects individuals, not belief systems.  Moreover, the individual right to freedom of religion or belief does not include the right to shield from criticism one’s religion or belief.  By providing such a shield, the “defamation of religions” concept degrades internationally-guaranteed individual rights in favor of the purported rights of religions.  As former UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion and Belief Asma Jahangir has explained, freedom of religion “confers a right to act in accordance with one’s religion but does not bestow a right for believers to have their religion itself protected from all adverse comment.”        

Religious intolerance and discrimination are best fought by encouraging respect for the human rights of every individual, rather than by national or international legal prohibitions that silence expression that purportedly “defames” religions.  New laws that curtail speech are not the solution.  Instead, existing laws and instruments against violence and discrimination based on religion should be fully implemented, and the international community should redouble its efforts to promote mutual understanding, religious tolerance, and respect for human rights and the freedom of expression.

Thankfully, support for the “defamation” resolutions has been steadily eroding.  Since 2008, the UNGA and the United Nations Human Rights Council have passed the “defamation” resolutions by only plurality votes.  We are confident that this positive movement will continue, and we hope that your country will oppose the resolution and all efforts to establish an international legal principle against “defamation of religions.”  

Thank you for your consideration of this important issue.

 

Respectfully yours

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