“Unacceptable” Free Speech
This gem was tucked away deep within the bowels of the Inquirer today. To summarize, the U.N. Human Rights Council has passed a resolution calling for countries around the world to prohibit criticism of religion, particularly Islam. This is a direct, frontal assault on human rights, modernity and western civilization. When will our so-called great thinkers and elites wake up from their intellectual malaise? Will it be too late when they do?
Vote on religion passed in U.N.
GENEVA, Switzerland - The United Nations’ top human-rights body approved a proposal by Muslim nations yesterday urging passage of laws around the world to protect religion from criticism.
The proposal put forward by Pakistan on behalf of Islamic countries had drawn strong criticism from free-speech campaigners and liberal democracies. A simple majority of 23 members of the 47-nation Human Rights Council voted for the resolution. The United States did not vote because it is not a member of the council.
Muslim nations argue that religions, particularly Islam, must be shielded from criticism in public life. They cited cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad as an example of unacceptable free speech.