Last month South Africa voted in favour of a UN Human Rights Council Resolution which seeks to curb freedom of expression under the guise of discouraging “defamation of religion”. Freedom House reported
| The resolution, sponsored by Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), condemns defamation of religions in general though it mentions only Islam specifically. Presented as a measure to protect the religious sensibilities of Muslims, the resolution asserts that freedom of expression “should be exercised with responsibility and may therefore be subject to limitations as provided by law.” The resolution passed the council 24-14, with nine abstentions. “This resolution condones state punishment for public utterances that authoritarian governments will claim defame religion,” said Jennifer Windsor, Executive Director of Freedom House. “It is utterly inappropriate for the Human Rights Council to justify censorship and the stifling of dissenting voices.” |
As yet, the Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) in South Africa has not yet issued a peep of protest against our government’s shameful support for this resolution. The FXI were recently outraged by a small Jewish community newspaper’s refusal to print an article by Ronnie Kasrils, so it is quite disturbing that they remain quiet when the government of this country supports a resolution curbing freedom of expression.
Comments