UN Rights Body Condemns Any Manifestation Of Religious Hatred

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Condemning and strongly rejecting any advocacy and manifestation of religious hatred, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has adopted a resolution which incorporates the above pledges.

The Xinhua news agency reported that this is also in response to the recent public and pre-meditated acts of desecration of the Holy Quran.

Underscoring the need for holding those responsible to account in a manner consistent with obligations of states arising from international human rights law, the resolution calls upon states to adopt national laws and law enforcement frameworks that address, prvent and prosecute acts and advocacy of religious hatred that constitute incitement to discrimination, hostility and violence. It urges stakeholders to take immediate steps to ensure accountability.

The resolution urges the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and all relevant special procedures of the Human Rights Council, and treaty bodies within their respective mandates to formulate recommendations on addressing this phenomenon and to speak out against advocacy of religious hatred.

Additionally, the resolution requests the UN High Commissioner to present an oral update on the various drivers, root causes and human rights impact of religious hatred — constituting incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, highlighting gaps in existing national, legal, policy and law enforcement frameworks — at the next Human Rights Council session.

The resolution urges the UN rights body to hold an interactive dialogue in this regard and to organise an interactive panel discussion of experts to identify the root causes, drivers and human rights impact of desecration of sacred books and places of worship. It also requests the rights body to factor in the use of religious symbols as a manifestation of religious hatred, and similar acts which could constitute incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence.

Following an urgent debate on July 11 (Tuesday), the UNHRC on July 12 (Wednesday), adopted the resolution by a vote of 28 in favour, 12 against and seven abstentions. It put on record its concerns on the alarming rise in premeditated and public acts of religious hatred, such as the one in which the Holy Quran was recurrently desecrated in some European and other countries.

After an urgent debate on Tuesday, July 11, about the alarming rise in premeditated and public acts of religious hatred as manifested by the recurrent desecration of the Holy Quran in some European and other countries, the UNHRC on Wednesday, July 12, adopted the resolution by a vote of 28 in favour, 12 against and seven abstentions.