As if the endless tales of corruption, ineptitude, and financial waste were not enough to sully one’s view of the United Nations, here is another reason to look askance at Turtle Bay: the organization is pushing a global blasphemy law designed to thwart criticism of the Islamic faith:
United Nations General Assembly President Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann said on Tuesday [November 11] that the world body should ban defamation of all religions and disagreed that such a move would impinge upon freedom of speech.
“Yes, I believe that defamation of religion should be banned,” he said in response to a question at a press conference to highlight the interfaith conference at the UN headquarters. No one should try to defame Islam or any other religion, he said, adding: “We should respect all religions.”
The meeting intended to build on a Saudi-led forum in Madrid earlier this year that issued a declaration touting “respect for religions.” That sounds pleasant enough. Yet there is a thinly veiled agenda at work here: “a global law to punish blasphemy — a campaign championed by the 56-member Organization of Islamic Conference that puts the rights of religions ahead of individual liberties.” Indeed, the details of last week’s UN get-together are maddening:
Consider one key draft resolution at the event. Introduced jointly by the Philippines and Pakistan, it openly seeks to limit press freedoms. Sure, as read by Philippine President Gloria Arroyo, the language pays lip service to the notion of freedom of expression.
But the document then goes on to emphasize the “special duties and responsibilities necessary for the respect of the rights or reputations of others, protection of national security or of public order, or of public health and morals.”
Translation: Don’t even think of publishing those Danish cartoons or anything even close to them. And forget about questioning authorities in places like, say, Riyadh.
Culture of peace? This is the culture of censorship and the West should have none of it.
