ECLJ Back at the United Nations
Our international affiliate, the European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ), continues to provide valuable information about a troubling new report entitled Combating Defamation of Religions a measure promoted by the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC).
Weve been telling you in recent months that this measure essentially prohibits the criticism of Islam but fails to protect minority religions like Christianity in many of these countries. Violence against Christians continues to escalate in these Muslim countries. In fact, there are news reports just out today that three Christians were killed in
The ECLJ has just completed participation in an expert seminar on defamation of religions convened by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCRH), at the United Nations headquarters, in Geneva that was held on October 2nd and 3rd. During the discussions, the ECLJ argued that countries willing to impose the Islamic concept of religious freedom are the same countries that do not respect religious minorities, especially Christian minorities.
As I told you in an earlier report, the Islamic countries argue that, since the terrorist attacks in the United States on September 11, 2001, there has been a serious upsurge in discrimination and violence against Muslims and Arab peoples in most areas of the world because Islam is identified with terrorism. According to the Islamic countries, and based on the report submitted by the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Racism, Muslims face much more discrimination and violence than any other religious group. The problem is that the U.N. report glaringly omitted any reference to the growing persecution of Christians worldwide and the massive Christian exodus from Middle Eastern countries.
This is a very important issue one that our international affiliate will continue to engage at the U.N. and in the international arena. Well keep you posted as developments unfold.