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Pakistan a leading player in imposing blasphemy law on globe through UNHRC: Nazir Bhatti |
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Philadelphia: November 17, 2009. (PCP) Dr. Nazir S Bhatti, President of Pakistan Christian Congress PCC expressed reservations on UNHRC Resolution A/HRC/12/L.14/Rev.1 subject to “Religion Defamation” presented by Zamir Akram, a Pakistani representative of Organization of Islamic Conference OIC on behalf of Egypt and USA, the cosponsors of resolution because it will promote blasphemy law around globe.
Resolution A/HRC/12/L.14/Rev.1 states: “its concern that incidents of racial and religious intolerance, discrimination and related violence, as well as of negative racial and religious stereotyping continue to rise around the world, and condemns, in this context, any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, and urges States to take effective measures, consistent with their obligations under international human rights law to address and combat such incidents..” Further more it reads as “Recognizes the positive contribution that the exercise of the right to freedom of expression, particularly by the media, including through information and communication
technologies such as the Internet, and full respect for the freedom to seek, receive and impart information can make to the fight against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and to preventing human rights abuses, but expresses regret at the promotion by certain media of false images and negative stereotypes of vulnerable individuals or groups of individuals, and at the use of information and communication technologies such as the Internet for purposes contrary to respect for human rights, in particular the perpetration of violence against and exploitation and abuse of women and children, and disseminating racist and xenophobic discourse or content…”
Mr. Zamir Akram from Pakistan speaking on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), in an explanation of the vote before the vote, said the Organization of the Islamic Conference attached great importance to the exercise of freedom of belief and expression, but the exercise of this right carried with it duties and responsibilities, including the need to fight against hate speech. The joint Egyptian/United States initiative sought to address contemporary issues in the exercise of this right. Building on the 2005 text, the current text included issues of incitement to racial or religious hatred, negative stereotyping, and the need to combat and address the abuse of the right under international human rights law. Negative stereotyping or defamation of religions was a modern expression of religious hatred and xenophobia. This spread not only to individuals but to religions and belief systems, leading to violence, discrimination and hatred, negatively affecting human rights. The Organization of the Islamic Conference wished to put on record, that as per its understanding, the references to obligations under international human rights law came under the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and other particular bodies. The resolution should be adopted by consensus, now and in the future.”
On October 2, 2009, United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) states: “resolution on Freedom of opinion and expression (A/HRC/12/L.14/Rev.1)” was “adopted without a vote.” which will take legal bindings in December, 2009.
Nazir S Bhatti alleged that Pakistan is major player behind this “Religion Defamation” resolution because Pakistan is only country in Islamic world with subject to capital punishment on blasphemy law, therefore, member countries in United Nations shall view this move in light of situation of terrorism in Pakistan where Article 2, of constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan and blasphemy laws are breeding terror and protecting Islamic extremism.
“I invite representatives of UNO and UNHRC to visit Pakistan and listen sermons of Friday Prayers in every mosque of Pakistan where Imams preach hate against Christianity and call them infidels and term it Muslims obligation to wage Jihad and kill infidels” said Nazir Bhatti
The incidents of killing Christians, destroying their homes, desecrating Churches and burning alive Christians on accusation of blasphemy are matter of daily action by Islamic fundamental elements while enforced conversion of Christian women and gang rape of teen age Christian girls by Muslim extremists in Islamic Republic of Pakistan is challenge to humanity.
The UNHRC must remember untold stories of violence on pretext to blasphemy law in Gojra, Korian and Bahminwali told by Christian victims presented by International Club of Peace Research in its session of October 2009, that country in OIC (Pakistan) which presented “Religion Defamation” resolution is committing genocide of Christian in Pakistan in name of religion.
Dr. Nazir Bhatti said “Egypt, the mover of Religion Defamation resolution is persecuting Christians in its own land and committing crime against humanity”
“I also invite UN delegation to visit Pakistan and see open sale of thousands of books written against other religions and hate articles in Muslim owned newspapers while electronic media of Pakistan is broadcasting and also spreading hate towards Christianity”
Nazir Bhatti said that Religion Defamation shall create immense problems for religious minorities in Islamic countries and an end to religious freedom.
“20 million Pakistani Christians have launched a peaceful campaign to repeal blasphemy law and urging EU and USA to press upon government of Pakistan to end this tool of violence against Christian but unfortunately Western government are supporting a resolution in UNHRC which shall spread blasphemy law around globe” said Nazir Bhatti
Nazir Bhatti urged International forums in UNHRC to block “Religion Defamation” resolution to end terrorism and to cleanse breeding grounds of terrorists in Pakistan, Yemen, Egypt, Dudan and Somalia. |
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