[Kosh]

This is bull****

Defamation of religion passes at UN Human Rights Council again

The United Nations Human Rights Council has once again passed a resolution proposed by Islamic countries which urges the creation of laws in member states to prevent criticism of religion (namely, Islam).

Members of the Human Rights Council voted 23 in favour of a resolution yesterday to combat "defamation of religion." Eleven nations, mostly from the West, opposed the resolution and 13 countries abstained.

Ahead of the vote, nearly 200 secular, religious and media groups from around the world (including the NSS) appealed to the Council in Geneva to reject the proposals, which were introduced by the 56-nation Organisation of Islamic Conference.

In a statement, the coalition of NGOs said the “defamation of religion” resolution “may be used in certain countries to silence and intimidate human rights activists, religious dissenters and other independent voices,” and to restrict freedom of religion and of speech. The resolution, its critics said, would also restrict free speech and even academic study in open societies in the West and elsewhere.

The OIC argued that criticising or satirising religions is a violation of the rights of believers and leads to discrimination and violence against them. The resolution, proposed by Pakistan on behalf of the OIC, says “Defamation of religion is a serious affront to human dignity leading to a restriction on the freedom of their adherents and incitement to religious violence. Islam is frequently and wrongly associated with human rights violations and terrorism.”

AFIK the only religion actually mentioned is Islam, the the countries pushing this were......Islamic.

[Blue Lion]

What is the repercussion of criticizing Islam then?

[Herra Tohtori]

You get a fatwa on you.

[Blue Lion]

They did that anyway.

[Herra Tohtori]

Well, I guess now the United Nations will shake a finger at you as well and say "Please don't do that" in a serious voice.

[Kosh]

What is the repercussion of criticizing Islam then?

If we live in Europe and you do it publicly, death threats and/or assasinations.

[JCDNWarrior]

What is the repercussion of criticizing Islam then?

If we live in Europe and you do it publicly, death threats and/or assasinations.

Actually, I am not worried about Islamic people at all; the ones I know are either kind and helpful (especially the older people) or they are a bit wary of western people due to the way to media portrays them. Of course they are a bit more agressive than us, but they are not at all different from our mentality only 150 years or so ago. Maybe Europeans like ourselves just grown to be less agressive.

Either way, I think the way we think about Islamic people is rather overboard, and coincides rather well with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as Israel's urge to strike Iran. I may be an idealist, but I do firmly believe that with positive attention and care, respect when they are young, comes a long way into making them good citizens.

For the militant Islamics, see it this way; if your country is being attacked, wouldn't you fight back? I think I would, at least. That of course doesn't make their deeds in war, good deeds, but the whole situation is more than just one-sided, of course.

Back on the OP (Original Post), I think constructive critisism against any institution and/or religion should be acceptable. Using that as an excuse to attack religions, however, isn't acceptable. That only helps to put two cultures against eachother, instead of to work together.

- JC

[Kosh]

Actually, I am not worried about Islamic people at all;

Theogh Van Gogh would have something to say about that. Plus often when someone publicaly criticizes Islam they do get lots of death threats.

[Blue Lion]

What is the repercussion of criticizing Islam then?

If we live in Europe and you do it publicly, death threats and/or assasinations.

I kinda meant "What does this resolution actually enforce?'

It reminds me of the nonbinding laws that get passed all the time. Unless this one is actually binding?

But removing the names and such, countries are singled out in resolutions all the time. I'm not saying it's a great idea, but the idea that this doesn't happen all the time is kinda silly.

[Dilmah G]

Argghh, preventing the criticism of religion? 
Whoever the hell thought that up should have to be thrown into Fallujah for a week with nothing but the clothes on his back and an AK-47, they'll show you criticism of religion. Not only does this take us a step back from what the direction the world's been taking since Nostradamus was here, you could even go as far as saying, it's preventing us moving in that direction. How are we supposed to prove/disprove texts in the Qur'ran and the Bible without it falling under the blanket term of "Criticism", or is my lack of sleep getting to me again?

[TrashMan]

How are we supposed to prove/disprove texts in the Qur'ran and the Bible

That would be a rather pointless endavour, wouldn't it?

The only reason why someone would even want to do that that spring to my mind is either because he's a religious zealot or consumed by hate for religion.

[Ghostavo]

How are we supposed to prove/disprove texts in the Qur'ran and the Bible

That would be a rather pointless endavour, wouldn't it?

The only reason why someone would even want to do that that spring to my mind is either because he's a religious zealot or consumed by hate for religion.

Curiosity and desire for knowledge? Or are we supposed to look at texts that basically say "Pi equals 3" and expect people to take that one seriously?

[Dilmah G]

@T-Man
Well I'm not usually fueled by Religious Hate, I'd consider myself a Christian, although I do agree with some methods other Christians use to empower others and the parts of Christianity they believe/won't acknowledge.
@Ghostavo
Yeah, if Einstein didn't like the concept of ether, we would still have used it until someone disproved it. I don't hate Freespace, but I look at things presented in the game in a semi-logical fashion.

[Herra Tohtori]

So let's say someone wants to implement Sharia law in a random country and their opponents outright says that a religious book is not a good basis for legislation...

...is that defamation of religion?

[TrashMan]

Curiosity and desire for knowledge? Or are we supposed to look at texts that basically say "Pi equals 3" and expect people to take that one seriously?

I'm saying there's very little to prove or disprove. These texts are thousands of years old, and in most cases are not even supposed to be taken literaly. So what exactly do you gain by it?

[Ghostavo]

Curiosity and desire for knowledge? Or are we supposed to look at texts that basically say "Pi equals 3" and expect people to take that one seriously?

I'm saying there's very little to prove or disprove. These texts are thousands of years old, and in most cases are not even supposed to be taken literaly. So what exactly do you gain by it?

But that's the thing, we know Pi isn't 3, but what if we didn't know? Being vague about what's to be taken literally or not is not an option many people like.

[Sushi]

Curiosity and desire for knowledge? Or are we supposed to look at texts that basically say "Pi equals 3" and expect people to take that one seriously?

Eeeew! Good point, but terrible example! I must protest!

Pi does equal 3, for certain (low) levels of precision. For some applications, 3 is close enough. In fact, for any precision of PI you choose, you are always going to have to deal with "close enough."

A better example to make your point would be something like "most plants grow better when you set them on fire," or "most Americans appreciate it when you gauge your initials into the side of their car with your keys."

[captain-custard]

lets hope the un  goes down the list and give us (non-religous ppl) the protection against religions insulting us then it will be balanced , but at the end of the day questioning something is not deformation ....so we can continue to question it

[Blue Lion]

Curiosity and desire for knowledge? Or are we supposed to look at texts that basically say "Pi equals 3" and expect people to take that one seriously?

Eeeew! Good point, but terrible example! I must protest!

Pi does equal 3, for certain (low) levels of precision. For some applications, 3 is close enough. In fact, for any precision of PI you choose, you are always going to have to deal with "close enough."

A better example to make your point would be something like "most plants grow better when you set them on fire," or "most Americans appreciate it when you gauge your initials into the side of their car with your keys."

Art AND Math critic?

[Sushi]

Art AND Math critic?

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