RIYADH — The United Nations Human Rights Council has decided to discuss the issue of contempt of religions and to introduce a resolution for vote at its next session in March at the request of the Kingdom.
The Kingdom's request was submitted by Saudi Ambassador to UN in Geneva Faisal Trad to the High Commissioner for Human Rights Prince Zeid Bin Ra'ad Al-Hussein.
The resolution, to be put to a vote at the Human Rights Council, demands that the freedom of expression should not cross the lines which represent an insult to religions and beliefs, and demands an end to deliberate insults to Islam.
The Kingdom sought in 2011 a similar resolution by the Human Rights Council but Western countries coordinated diplomatic alliance to water down the text of the resolution on the grounds that there should be no prejudice to the freedom of expression and the press.
They re-worded the resolution to include a compromise language stating the prevention of religious intolerance.
This Resolution No. 18/16 of 2011 led to the of postponing of an in-depth discussion on this issue. But the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Egypt, Pakistan and Turkey continued to seek at international forums the re-introduction of the issue for discussion.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights during the funeral of the victims of ‘Charlie Hebdo' condemned the attacks on the magazine but at the same time stressed that the cartoons hurt his feelings and the feelings of millions of Muslims around the world.
