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[qrypt]

Certain Muslim countries are reportedly pushing for an international treaty that would ban defamation of religions and religious ideas/figures.  Story: here. 

I think this is outrageous.  I'm pleased to see that the US is poised to resist it.  But it's troubling to see the claim that there is some prospect for this proposal to gain traction eventually. 

Are there any grounds for being more favorably disposed to this sort of thing?  I find it easy to dismiss this one as preposterously outrageous. 

[francie_]

Oh great.  The message from the Algerian spokesperson is, "resist this treaty and you will cause Islamic extremism to grow."  What a way to spread toleration of Islam.  Not.

Thinking of the Bamiyan Buddhas in Afghanistan, will the treaty also ban: prohibitions of, attacks on, or total destruction of religious images of faiths other than Muslim within Islamic countries?

An international treaty of religious tolerance and freedom, yes.  This proposal, no.

[kaysixteen]

A question Americans would have to ask wrt such proposals would be, what is different about this treaty vs. our own and time-honored First Amendment?  How would such a treaty strengthen religious freedom over the First Amendment, vs. how might it lower it?

[larryc]

I am an agnostic. The thing I notice about the usual mockers of religion is that they are generally halfwits. Letting them talk does not damage religion.

[frenchdoctor]

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion" are the very first words of the very first amendment of very first constitution of the very first democracy. There is a good reason for it.

There is also the sheer ridiculousness to see countries like Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Sudan and Somalia (all members of the Islamic Conference) giving us a lecture about democracy.

Saudi Arabia, for example, a prominent (and wealthy) member of the Conference, enforces strict gender apartheid, behead converts, exterminate gays, doesn't have any constitution or penal code that protect individual rights. Islam is the only tolerated faith. Penalties include floggings, amputations, gouged out eyes, beheadings and crucifixions.

I mean, people who behead converts and infidels wave a finger at us saying "you don't respect religious freedom !", and we should cower in shame ?  Let's talk about religious freedom in some countries that are members of the Islamic Conference instead. How well the Christians are treated in Sudan and Somalia ? Is the Jewish community of Pakistan thriving ? Come to think of it, where are the Jewish communities of Iran and Saudi Arabia ? I bet everything you want that Muslims are better treated in France, where they are full citizens that enjoy all civic rights and all social benefits, than non Muslims are in several member states of this Conference.

Actually, Muslims are better treated in Europe than they are in many Muslim countries. When they migrate, they come to Europe, not to Sudan or Pakistan. They massively prefer French and British "islamophobia" to Sudanese, Iranian, Pakistani or Saudi "islamophilia".

That's the thing with political propaganda : bigger is the lie, easier it is to propagate it. Libya, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Sudan and Iran pose as lands of freedom... and some are even buying it.

[european]

Come to think of it, where are the Jewish communities of Iran and Saudi Arabia ?

In Iran? Legally entitled to a seat in parliament.

Actually, Muslims are better treated in Europe than they are in many Muslim countries. When they migrate, they come to Europe, not to Sudan or Pakistan. They massively prefer French and British "islamophobia" to Sudanese, Iranian, Pakistani or Saudi "islamophilia".

While I acknowledge the point, economic issues play a gigantic part in this. (Perhaps to a lesser degree in Iran than in the other countries, though.)

[frenchdoctor]

Saudi Arabia is wealthy beyond imagination, but I don't see many migrants from North Africa going there. The Saudi way of life doesn't seem to convince them. They're not stupid : they know how the Wahhabis treat their slaves. Economy may be a factor among some others but, all in all, people happen to love freedom. That's what most migrants are looking for, and that's what we should give them. The theocrats are unable to stop this wave, and that's why they're trying to mess things up by hijacking the UN.