The Human Rights Council is gearing up for a heated debate surrounding a controversial draft resolution concerning religious hatred following a recent Quran burning incident in Sweden. This initiative has brought to light deep divisions within the UN body and has sparked a challenging discussion on the protection of human rights.
Pakistan, on behalf of the 57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), has presented a draft resolution that describes the Quran burning in Stockholm as “offensive, disrespectful, and a clear act of provocation.” The OIC argues that such acts incite hatred and constitute human rights violations. The draft resolution condemns the recurring incidents of public Quran burning in various European and other countries. However, this proposal has faced opposition from Western diplomats who contend that its focus is on safeguarding religious symbols rather than individual human rights.
Western diplomats expressed their dissatisfaction with the text, emphasizing that human rights should be anchored in the protection of individuals, not religions. The draft resolution will be presented to the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Tuesday.
This OIC initiative further exacerbates tensions between Western states and the Islamic organization, especially considering the OIC’s increased influence within the council. Nineteen OIC countries hold voting membership in the 47-member council, and some states, including China, have aligned themselves with the OIC’s draft resolution.
The outcome of the vote remains uncertain, as it is yet to be seen whether Pakistan can rally full support from all OIC countries. It is worth noting that a Saudi-led effort to halt a Yemen war crimes probe emerged victorious in 2021.
The passage of the resolution, which appears likely, could intensify the perception of a shifting balance within the council, with the West potentially losing ground on crucial debates regarding the boundaries between free speech and hate speech, as well as the rights of religions. According to Marc Limon, director of the Geneva-based Universal Rights Group, this could lead to a significant increase in acrimony within the council.
In the midst of the growing discord, the European Union has called for parties to seek consensus on the matter. Defamation of religions has long been a challenging topic within the UN, with the question of where to draw the line between freedom of expression and incitement to hatred posing a complex dilemma for policymakers and diplomats alike.