The UN Human Rights Council has passed a resolution expressing concern about the defamation of religions and urging states to prohibit it.

The UN Human Rights Council adopted Thursday the resolution-- proposed by Islamic countries-- on a 21-10 vote over the opposition of Europe and Canada.

EU countries, including France, Germany and Britain, voted against because they wanted to stop what thay called using religious anti-defamation laws to limited free speech.

But the Saudi delegation told the council ' it is regrettable that there are false translations and interpretations of the freedom of expression.'

The European Union said the text was one-sided because it primarily focused on Islam as the only religion specified as being attacked.

However, Saudi Arabi said "maybe Islam is one of the most obvious victims of aggressions under the pretext of freedom of expression.''

The resolution "notes with deep concern the intensification of the campaign of defamation of religions and the ethnic and religious profiling of Muslim minorities in the aftermath of the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001.''

It expresses "grave concern at the serious recent instances of deliberate stereotyping of religions, their adherents and sacred persons in the media,'' referring to insulting caricatures Of Prophet Muhammad(PBUH) published in a Danish magazine and The film Fitna made by Dutch MP Geert Wilders - critical of the Koran - which is posted on the internet.

The resolution also "urges states to take actions to prohibit the dissemination ... of racist and xenophobic ideas'' and material that would incite to religious hatred.


MHE/HAR