Human Rights Council

Resolution 4/9. Combating defamation of religions

The Human Rights Council,
Recalling the Outcome Document of the World Summit 2005 adopted in
resolution 60/1 of 24 October 2005 which emphasied the responsibilities of all
States, in conformit! with the "harter of the #nited $ations, to respect human ri%hts
and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction of an! &ind as to race, colour,
se', lan%ua%e or reli%ion, political or other opinion, national or social ori%in, propert!,
birth or other status, and which ac&nowled%ed the importance of respect and
understandin% for reli%ious and cultural di(ersit! throu%hout the world,
Recalling also the Durban Declaration and )ro%ramme of *ction, adopted in
September 2001 b! the World "onference a%ainst +acism, +acial Discrimination,
,enophobia and +elated -ntolerance .*/"O$/0112/12 and "orr013,
Recognizing the (aluable contributions of all reli%ions to modern ci(iliation
and the contribution that dialo%ue amon% ci(iliations can ma&e to an impro(ed
awareness and understandin% of the common (alues shared b! all human&ind,
Recalling also the /inal "ommuni4u5 of the 6hird 7'traordinar! Session of
the -slamic Summit "onference, held in 8a&&ah, Saudi *rabia, on 9 and 1 December
2005, which e'pressed serious concern at risin% discrimination a%ainst 8uslims,
Taking note of the report of the :i%h "ommissioner for :uman +i%hts on
;"ombatin% defamation of reli%ions< .*/:+"/4/503,
Welcoming the report b! the Special +apporteur on contemporar! forms of
racism, racial discrimination, 'enophobia and related intolerance on the ;Situation of
8uslims and *rabs in (arious parts of the world< .7/"$04/2006/193,
Also welcoming the report of the Special +apporteur on contemporar! forms
of racism, racial discrimination 'enophobia and related intolerance submitted to the
:uman +i%hts "ouncil at it fourth session .*/:+"/4/123, in which he draws the
attention of member States to the serious nature of the defamation of all reli%ions and
to the promotion of the fi%ht a%ainst these phenomena b! stren%thenin% the role of
interreli%ious and intercultural dialo%ue, promotin% reciprocal understandin% and =oint
action to meet the fundamental challen%es of de(elopment, peace and the protection
and promotion of human ri%hts,
Emphasizing that States, non>%o(ernmental or%aniations, reli%ious bodies and
the media ha(e an important role to pla! in promotin% tolerance and freedom of
reli%ion and belief throu%h education,
Noting with concern that defamation of reli%ions is amon% the causes of social
disharmon! and leads to (iolations of human ri%hts,
Noting with deep concern the increasin% trend in recent !ears of statements
attac&in% reli%ions, -slam and 8uslims in particular, in human ri%hts forums,
10 Expresses concern at ne%ati(e stereot!pin% of reli%ions and
manifestations of intolerance and discrimination in matters of reli%ion or belief?
20 Expresses deep concern at attempts to identif! -slam with terrorism,
(iolence and human ri%hts (iolations?
@0 Notes with deep concern the intensification of the campai%n of
defamation of reli%ions, and the ethnic and reli%ious profilin% of 8uslim minorities,
in the aftermath of the tra%ic e(ents of 11 September 2001?
40 Recognizes that, in the conte't of the fi%ht a%ainst terrorism,
defamation of reli%ions becomes an a%%ra(atin% factor that contributes to the denial of
fundamental ri%hts and freedoms of tar%et %roups, as well as their economic and
social e'clusion?
50 Also expresses concern at laws or administrati(e measures that ha(e
been specificall! desi%ned to ;control< and ;monitor< 8uslim and *rab minorities,
thereb! sti%matiin% them further and le%itimatin% the discrimination that the!
e'perience?
60 Strongly deplores ph!sical attac&s and assaults on businesses, cultural
centres and places of worship of all reli%ions as well as tar%etin% of reli%ious s!mbols?
90 rges States to ta&e resolute action to prohibit the dissemination,
includin% throu%h political institutions and or%aniations, of racist and 'enophobic
ideas and material aimed at an! reli%ion or its followers that constitute incitement to
racial and reli%ious hatred, hostilit! or (iolence?
10 Also urges States to pro(ide, within their respecti(e le%al and
constitutional s!stems, ade4uate protection a%ainst acts of hatred, discrimination,
intimidation and coercion resultin% from defamation of reli%ions, to ta&e all possible
measures to promote tolerance and respect for all reli%ions and their (alue s!stems
and to complement le%al s!stems with intellectual and moral strate%ies to combat
reli%ious hatred and intolerance?
20 !urther urges all States to ensure that all public officials, includin%
members of law enforcement bodies, the militar!, ci(il ser(ants and educators, in the
course of their official duties, respect different reli%ions and beliefs and do not
discriminate a%ainst persons on the %rounds of their reli%ion or belief, and that an!
necessar! and appropriate education or trainin% is pro(ided?
100 Emphasizes that e(er!one has the ri%ht to freedom of e'pression,
which should be e'ercised with responsibilit! and ma! therefore be sub=ect to
limitations as pro(ided b! law and necessar! for respect of the ri%hts or reputations of
others, protection of national securit! or of public order, public health or morals and
respect for reli%ions and beliefs?
110 "eplores the use of the print, audio>(isual and electronic media,
includin% the -nternet, and an! other means to incite acts of (iolence, 'enophobia or
related intolerance and discrimination towards -slam or an! other reli%ion?
120 #n$ites the Special +apporteur on contemporar! forms of racism, racial
discrimination, 'enophobia and related intolerance to report on all manifestations of
defamation of reli%ions and in particular on the serious implications of -slamophobia
on the en=o!ment of all ri%hts at its si'th session?
1@0 Re%uests the :i%h "ommissioner for :uman +i%hts to report to the
:uman +i%hts "ouncil on the implementation of this resolution at its si'th session0
Adopted &y a recorded $ote o' () to *)+
with , a&stentions
-*st meeting
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