Muslim foreign ministers call for 'religious hatred' laws

29 Sep 2012, 2:03 pm   -   Source: AFP
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Muslim foreign ministers have condemned an American-made film mocking Islam that sparked deadly protests. (AAP)

Muslim foreign ministers have condemned an American-made film mocking Islam that sparked deadly protests. (AAP)

Muslim foreign ministers have called for laws against incitement to 'religious hatred' as they condemned an American-made film mocking Islam that sparked deadly protests.

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Muslim foreign ministers have called for laws against incitement to "religious hatred" as they condemned an American-made film mocking Islam that sparked deadly protests.
  
Ministers from the 57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) said that freedom of expression had to be used with "responsibility."
  
They called on governments around the world "to take all appropriate measures, including necessary legislation against these acts that lead to incitement to hatred, discrimination and violence" based on religion.
  
OIC foreign ministers met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, where the "Innocence of Muslims" Internet film has been widely condemned, along with the death of four US diplomats killed in the wake of violent protests in Libya over the US-made video.
  
In a statement, the ministers condemned "intolerance, discrimination, profiling, negative stereotyping, stigmatization, religious hatred and violence against Muslims, as well as denigration of their religion" caused by the release of the film and cartoons of Islam's Prophet Mohammed.
  
"These Islamophobic acts stand in violation of the freedom of religion and belief, guaranteed by international human rights instruments, and have deeply offended" Muslims around the world, the statement added.
  
"We acknowledge the importance of freedom of expression, but at the same time stress the need to ensure that this freedom should be exercised by all with responsibility and in accordance with the relevant international human rights laws."
  
The ministers called for "global awareness about the dangerous implications of incitement to religious hatred, discrimination and violence."
  
The alleged maker of the video, Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, was arrested and detained without bond Thursday in Los Angeles for breaching the terms of his probation for a 2010 banking fraud conviction.
  
US President Barack Obama condemned the film but made an impassioned plea for freedom of speech at the UN summit. Several Muslim ministers have called for international legislation to prevent religious attacks.
  
"The alarming increase in the number of acts that defame religions and thereby people who adhere to such religions, have now serious implications for international peace and security," Turkey's Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said.
  
The "time has come to establish denigration of all religions and their followers as a hate crime. We have to take swift measures," he added.
  
 

Muslims , Religion

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Your Comments

So?

Ryan - from Earth, 9 months ago

Does that cover the Violence and Hatred Inspired by Religion as well??

Religious hatred laws

oncewas - from bribie island, 9 months ago

I think it would be better to have laws banning organised religion. Then people can believe as they think, worship what they like in private. However, as that won't happen, these OIC muslim foreign ministers should take a deep breath and a bex and start at home, and having established the laws, enforce them.

Take responsibility

Jim - from Perth, 9 months ago

The only violence that was created as a result of this film was by Muslims. They the muslims need to take responsibility for their own actions and not blame freedom of speech. Freedom of speech is the highest principle the world has and calls like this for moderation of freedom of speech is an attack on human freedoms. Why is it that Muslims always want to blame others about their happiness or lack of it. Other civil religions tell their followers to change themselves and go within. Islam seems intent of changing and imposing their will on others and that is why they are always in conflict.

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