Pakistan and Egypt Move In UN On Resolutions Against Anti-Muslim Speech

A new chapter began last week in the long running effort of Muslim countries to obtain United Nations support for banning "defamation of religion," particularly criticism of Islam. Last Wednesday Pakistan began circulating a new resolution "Combating Defamation of Religions" to members of the Human Rights Council. (UN Watch article including full text.) Meanwhile on Friday, Egypt took an unusual step. Instead of waiting, as usual, for the Special Rapporteur to file his report in June, Egypt has begun circulating a draft of a free speech resolution to members of the Human Rights Council. According to Saturday's Vancouver Sun , this pre-empts Canada which usually takes the lead in introducing the resolution on freedom of expression. The Egyptian draft expresses concern about abuses of speech. It is likely to draw opposition from many Western countries.