THE
TANDEM PROJECT
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UNITED
NATIONS, HUMAN RIGHTS,
FREEDOM OF RELIGION OR BELIEF
Separation
of Religion or Belief and State
IN EGYPT, RELIGIOUS CLASHES ARE OFF THE RECORD
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Issue: Taboos prevent inclusive & genuine dialogue on freedom of religion or belief.
For: United Nations, Governments, Religions or Beliefs, Academia, NGOs, Media, Civil Society
Review: In Egypt, Religious Clashes are off the Record, by Michael Slackman, New York Times: 1 February 2010
Excerpts: “A few weeks ago, on the day that Coptic Christians celebrate Christmas Eve, a Muslim gunman open fire on worshippers as they walked out of church, killing 7, wounding 10 and leading to the worst sectarian violence between Muslims and Christians in Egypt in years. In the days that followed, there were riots and clashes. Stores were wrecked. Homes were burned.
The one thing the government
would not do was admit the obvious: Egypt had experienced one of the most
serious outbreaks of sectarian violence in years. Instead, it said talk of
sectarian conflict amounted to sedition. But the evidence, provided in
newspapers, was irrefutable: 14 Muslims arrested, 28 Christians arrested,
Christian shops burned, Muslim housed burned.
Egypt has experienced many
clashes over the years between its Muslim majority and Christian minority, and
has always insisted that the conflicts were driven by something
else-anything-else.
Many political analysts and commentators and local people say that this approach-treating all crisis as a security problem-tends to aggravate tensions. A group of Christians and Muslims agreed to speak with a reporter about life here, about interfaith relations and about their government. Everyone agreed that interfaith relations were fine on a daily basis. But they also said that there was interfaith tension, especially among the young people, and they called on government to deal with it.”
For
UN Member States with ideological differences on defamation of religion and the
right to change a religion or belief, it is important to continue the
dialogue to “overcome the gaps in perceptions, concepts and ideas” and
achieve consensus between deeply-held religious beliefs and the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights: Vote
on Defamation of Religions
SURVEY ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND FREEDOM OF RELIGION OR
BELIEF
Survey
Questionnaire
Taboos:
prohibited areas for discussion of a
religion or belief agreed upon by a tradition, culture or law. Article 19
ICCPR; everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression. It may be subject
to certain restrictions as provided by law and necessary for respect for the
rights or reputations of others, or for the protection of national security,
public order, public health or morals.
35: Organization has taboos that discourage or prevent
open discussion of religion or belief. Y/N
36: Defines defamation of religion within the context of freedom of
opinion and expression. Y/N
37: Use human rights-based approach to discuss taboos and defamation of
religion or belief. Y /N
Article 18: International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights
UN General Comment 22 on Article 18
http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/(Symbol)/9a30112c27d1167cc12563ed004d8f15?Opendocument
Article
18 protects theistic, non-theistic and atheistic beliefs, as well as the right
not to profess any religion or belief. The terms "belief" and
"religion" are to be broadly construed. Article 18 is not limited in
its application to traditional religions or to religions and beliefs with
institutional characteristics or practices analogous to those of traditional
religions. The Committee therefore views with concern any tendency to
discriminate against any religion or belief for any reason, including the fact
that they are newly established, or represent religious minorities that may be
the subject of hostility on the part of a predominant religious community.
Attachments: In Egypt, Religious Clashes are off the Record;
Vote on Defamation of Religions.