UN: Muslimische Staaten gegen «Islamophobie» im Westen

Der UN-Menschenrechtsrat in Genf. Photo:www.jugenddelegierte.de

Muslimische Staaten haben am Dienstag im UN-Menschenrechtsrat gegen angebliche «Islamophobie» im Westen protestiert und die UN aufgefordert, dagegen entschiedener vorzugehen. Ein Vertreter Ägyptens bezeichnete die Behandlung von arabischen Muslimen in westlichen Ländern als rassistisch, fremdenfeindlich und ausgrenzend.

Namens der Islamische Konferenz-Organisation OIC schlug Pakistan eine Resolution vor, die darauf abzielt, dass Medien eine „Atmosphäre von Respekt und Toleranz für religiöse und kulturelle Vielfalt" fördern. Angesichts der Mehrheitsverhältnisse dürfte die Resolution im UN-Menschenrechtsrat eine Mehrheit finden.

Nach stundenlangem Hinundher erlaubte der Rat dem Vertreter Norwegens, im Namen von 56 UN-Mitgliedstaaten gegen die Behandlung von Dissidenten im Iran zu protestieren. Als Resolution hätte der Text, so Beobachter, keine Chance.

Zum Thema:
Debatte über Rassismus im UN-Menschenrechtsrat

In der Medienmitteilung zur Sitzung finden sich die Sätze:
AHMED ZAHOOR (Pakistan), speaking on behalf of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, said despite the significant progress towards evolving normative standards and instruments against different forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, there continued to be persistence of old forms of racism as well as the emergence of new ones.

The consensus adoption of the outcome document of the Durban Review Conference last year was an expression of the renewed collective commitment by the international community to fight against racism, as well as a signal to the relevant constituencies that racism was unacceptable and would be vigorously combated by different institutions of States within all parameters of law.

Defamation of religions was the latest manifestation of discrimination, intolerance and xenophobia. Defamation of religions and its negative consequences had increased substantively in the past few years. It was unfortunate that such manifestation was being defended under the garb of freedom of expression - this latter needed to be exercised judiciously and in a responsible manner within the parameters of internationally-accepted norms.

The simple-minded equation of Islam and the entire Muslim community with terrorism was illogical, ethically reprehensible, and intellectually dishonest since it led to ignoring the political basis of terrorism, and to de-legitimise the political content of their insidious programme. The international community must address the root causes of terrorism, such as the situations of grave injustices and repression affecting Muslims, and conditions of poverty and lack of opportunity, which bred extremism and terrorism.

ABDULAZIZ ALWASIL (Saudi Arabia) said Saudi Arabia emphasized the contents of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action that confirmed that racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance were obstacles that impeded friendly relations between peoples and nations, and that they were the root causes of many conflicts, including armed conflicts. Saudi Arabia agreed with the report of the Special Rapporteur on racism that racism was the element that ignited the flames of tensions.

Saudi Arabia highlighted that the King of Saudi Arabia had called for dialogue and peace among the peoples of the world at the inter-religious dialogue. Saudi Arabia emphasised the important role of the media, be it positive or negative, and underscored the importance of the work of the Special Rapporteur, including the conclusions and recommendations contained in the report. Those were important for the role they could play in targeting the root causes of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related forms of intolerance.

AHMED IHAB GAMALELDIN (Egypt) said Egypt was dismayed at instances of religious and cultural prejudices, intolerance and discrimination on the basis of religions or beliefs or different systems. Egypt expressed its concern at the negative stereotyping of religions, insults to and defamation of religious personalities, holy books, scriptures and symbols. It deplored all acts of ideological and physical violence and assaults against persons on the basis of their religions or beliefs.

Egypt reaffirmed the validity of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action as it had been adopted and the outcome document of the Durban Review Conference held in Geneva in April 2009, which had also endorsed the proposal submitted by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to organise a series of expert workshops to attain a better understanding of the legislative patterns, judicial practices and national policies in the different regions of the world with regard to the concept of incitement to hatred. The organization of these workshops would be useful to address the underlying human rights concerns behind the issues of "defamation of religions" and "incitement to racial and religious hatred".

Quelle: Livenet/Reuters