Maldives supports US-Egyptian effort to Eliminate Incitement to Religious Hatred
Thursday 29 October 2009
03 October 2009, Geneva;The Maldives yesterday cosponsored a key United Nations resolution on Freedom of Opinion and Expression which makes clear that while a vital component of a liberal democratic society, the right to freedom of expression also carries with it special duties and responsibilities and should not be used to advocate national, racial or religious hatred that constitute incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence.
The resolution is seen as a key component of efforts by the international community to better understand and delineate the relationship between the right to free speech on the one hand, and the need to reduce incidents of racial and religious intolerance, discrimination and related violence, and the advocacy of religious hatred, on the other hand. These efforts have gathered pace following outcry in Islamic countries at the publication of cartoons of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), as well as President’s Obama’s efforts, through speeches in Cairo and Istanbul, to improve understanding between the West and the Islamic World.
In the aftermath of the Cairo address, the Presidents of the United States and Egypt committed to work together to express strong support for freedom of opinion and expression while also confronting religious stereotyping and hatred. The two countries therefore tabled a joint resolution on the issue to the 12th Session of the Human Rights Council. The Maldives strongly supported these efforts both bilaterally and through the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) and cosponsored the draft Resolution.
In a major success for the Council, and a major step forward for interfaith dialogue, the resolution was subsequently adopted by the Council by consensus.
The Resolution recognises that the exercise of the right to freedom of opinion and expression is one of the essential foundations of a democratic society, but that while fully promoting and protecting the right, States should take effective measures to address and combat the use of free speech to promote religious intolerance,discrimination, hostility and violence. The resolution also makes the important point that, practiced correctly through informed debate and comment, freedom of expression and opinion can make an important contribution to fighting racial and religious intolerance by encouraging dialogue and understanding.
Speaking after the adoption of the resolution, Foreign Minister H.E. Dr. Shaheed said:
“The Maldives is now a proud democracy with strong and clear laws and mechanisms to promote and protect the right to freedom of opinion and expression. However, the Government believes that it is important to exercise that right in a way that promotes peace and understanding rather than intolerance and hate.
There is no doubt that Muslims around the world are currently suffering on a daily basis because of simplistic, misguided and offensive perceptions of Muslims and Islam. The US-Egypt resolution, which the Maldives delegation to the United Nations in Geneva has been strongly supporting, will undoubtedly help us address such intolerance while at the same time strengthening the universal and inalienable right to free speech. The Maldives therefore welcomes the Resolution and was proud to cosponsor it”.