United Nations Human Rights Council: Justifying Repression for Islam

UN Human Rights Council, Geneva - September 10, 13, 14, 25, 2007.

Speakers: Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), Egypt, Malaysia, Syria, Iran.



Egyptian delegate: "On the issue of the relationship between freedom of expression and freedom of religion or belief, mentioned in paragraph 38, my delegation would like to emphasize that the episode of the offensive publication of portraits of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, in the media in some countries, has highlighted the damage that freedom of speech if left unchecked may lead to, not only by hurting the religious feelings of more than a billion people, but also to their freedom of religion and their right of respect for their religion."

Syrian delegate: "... and freedom of opinion has been utilized recently in an increasing manner to insult hundreds of millions of Muslims around the world and to humiliate Islam. As an example, there are the cartoons that use the image of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. All of those are attempts to cause hatred and to instigate to violence."

United Nations Human Rights Council: Platform for Terrorist Spokesmen

UN Human Rights Council, Geneva - September 14, 17, 2007.

Speakers: Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), NGO Tupaj Amaru.



Excerpt: "The international community must address the root causes of terrorism, such as the situations of grave injustices and repression affecting Muslims, and conditions of poverty and lack of opportunity which breed extremism and terrorism."

Excerpt: "Bombs and missiles continue to blight the lives of hundreds of thousands of innocents in the great anti-terrorist crusade. [...] The Guantanamo base has become a concentration camp and illegal interrogation center where the detainees suffer the worst humiliations."