Combating Defamation of Religions

A/HRC/RES/4/9View PDF

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

A Resolution of the Human Rights Council, published in 2007.

What else is in this group?

10 documents · 2006–2011

Newer documents in this group exist (latest: 2011).

Year	Symbol	Title	Word length	Text similarity
2011	A/RES/65/224	Combating defamation of religions	2,898	–
2010	A/HRC/RES/13/16	Combating defamation of religions	1,991	–
2010	A/RES/64/156	Combating defamation of religions	2,863	–
2009	A/HRC/RES/10/22	Combating defamation of religions	—	–
2009	A/RES/63/171	Combating defamation of religions	2,646	–

This group bundles related documents that are not individually ordered.

What’s in this document?

13 operative paragraphs

Expresses concern at negative stereotyping of religions and manifestations of intolerance and discrimination in matters of religion or belief;

Expresses deep concern at attempts to identify Islam with terrorism, violence and human rights violations;

Notes with deep concern the intensification of the campaign of defamation of religions, and the ethnic and religious profiling of Muslim minorities, in the aftermath of the tragic events of 11 September 2001;

Recognizes that, in the context of the fight against terrorism, defamation of religions becomes an aggravating factor that contributes to the denial of fundamental rights and freedoms of target groups, as well as their economic and social exclusion;

Also expresses concern at laws or administrative measures that have been specifically designed to “control” and “monitor” Muslim and Arab minorities, thereby stigmatizing them further and legitimating the discrimination that they experience;

Strongly deplores physical attacks and assaults on businesses, cultural centres and places of worship of all religions as well as targeting of religious symbols;

Urges States to take resolute action to prohibit the dissemination, including through political institutions and organizations, of racist and xenophobic ideas and material aimed at any religion or its followers that constitute incitement to racial and religious hatred, hostility or violence;

Also urges States to provide, within their respective legal and constitutional systems, adequate protection against acts of hatred, discrimination, intimidation and coercion resulting from defamation of religions, to take all possible measures to promote tolerance and respect for all religions and their value systems and to complement legal systems with intellectual and moral strategies to combat religious hatred and intolerance;

Further urges all States to ensure that all public officials, including members of law enforcement bodies, the military, civil servants and educators, in the course of their official duties, respect different religions and beliefs and do not discriminate against persons on the grounds of their religion or belief, and that any necessary and appropriate education or training is provided;

Emphasizes that everyone has the right to freedom of expression, which should be exercised with responsibility and may therefore be subject to limitations as provided by law and necessary for respect of the rights or reputations of others, protection of national security or of public order, public health or morals and respect for religions and beliefs;

Deplores the use of the print, audio-visual and electronic media, including the Internet, and any other means to incite acts of violence, xenophobia or related intolerance and discrimination towards Islam or any other religion;

Invites the Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance to report on all manifestations of defamation of religions and in particular on the serious implications of Islamophobia on the enjoyment of all rights at its sixth session;

Requests the High Commissioner for Human Rights to report to the Human Rights Council on the implementation of this resolution at its sixth session.

Combating Defamation of Religions

Who adopted this document and its mandates?

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