Washington, DC -- Rep. Eliot L. Engel today praised the adoption (by consensus) of a resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) opposing religious intolerance, marking the long-awaited defeat of the dangerous ‘defamation of religions’ concept.   For the last several years, Rep. Engel had been leading bipartisan groups of members of Congress in writing to leaders of countries around the world urging opposition to ‘defamation of religions’ resolutions.

“Today, the UNHRC took a giant step away from intolerance by adopting a resolution focused on protecting individuals’ rights to freedom of religion and expression rather than religions’ rights being spared any criticism,” said Rep. Engel.  “We must guarantee people’s rights to believe and speak out on those beliefs, rather than condemning those who do not hold an accepted view of a particular religion or belief.”

In the last several years, the UNHRC and the UN General Assembly had passed divisive ‘combating defamation of religions’ resolutions which purported to protect religions against defamation, but only caused discrimination against minorities, silencing of speech, and even violence against those who don’t conform to majority or government-sanctioned belief systems.  In recent times, two leading Pakistanis, Federal Minister of Minorities Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti and Punjab Governor Salman Taseer, were assassinated for opposing their country’s ‘blasphemy’ laws, which closely parallel the ‘defamation of religions’ concept.  The Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) had sponsored the ‘defamation of religions’ resolution.

“I would like to extend particular praise to the State Department for diligent and adept diplomatic work with other countries to replace the ‘defamation of religions’ resolution with text that supports international standards on freedom of religion and expression, and to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom for the expert advice and support it provided to members of Congress on this issue,” said Rep. Engel.

Last week, Rep. Engel led a bipartisan group of 22 members of Congress who signed letters to leaders of more than 40 countries urging opposition the ‘defamation of religions’ resolution.

“We learned some valuable lessons in our campaign against the ‘defamation of religions' resolutions.  First, by returning to the UNHRC, the United States has been able to promote its values and national interests.  Second, real cooperation between the executive and legislative branches of government strengthens our nation when we face the world.  Third, bipartisan efforts are still more effective than partisan bickering in getting things done in Washington.”

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