Brussels - New York: Europe and the Arabs
Following repeated incidents of targeting the Holy Qur’an, whether by tearing or burning, in European cities, including Sweden, the Netherlands, and others, and the angry reactions in Arab and Islamic countries, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said that peaceful coexistence is increasingly being torn apart throughout the world due to speeches and actions that seek to sow division. Incite and spread hatred.
Before the open dialogue session - held by the Human Rights Council - on confronting religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence, Volker Türk added that overcoming religious hatred requires “a renewed social contract, based on trust and respect.” Love what was stated in the daily United Nations news bulletin, a copy of which we received on Friday
He pointed to the public burning of copies of the Holy Qur’an in some countries, stressing his strong rejection of “these humiliating and hostile acts, especially those that clearly aim to incite violence and division.”
He said that these actions have a profound personal impact on millions of individuals and communities, as they touch the core of their identity and values.
Hate factors
The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights noted that there are several factors that lead to religious hatred, including, “politicians and leaders who promote policies that divide, polarize and suppress opposition voices, as well as a rising wave of populism characterized by dangerous identity politics, fueled by nationalism and inflammatory sentiment.” the fear".
Turk also explained that among these factors are education systems that fail to teach their students respect, tolerance and understanding, and the danger of religious hate speech.
He added that in cyberspace, “social media algorithms amplify messages of hate, fueling chanting chambers of ignorance.”
Solutions and initiatives
The UN official spoke about solutions and initiatives aimed at confronting religious hatred, saying that initiatives to train law enforcement officials, the judiciary, religious actors, teachers and media professionals in combating religious hatred must be part of a comprehensive approach that integrates religious literacy, better understanding and sensitivity, and taking clear measures. To address discrimination.
He noted that some countries “fail to meet their international obligations to enact and implement comprehensive anti-discrimination laws, and communities are left without redress when their rights are violated.”
He stressed that dealing with these complex problems goes beyond the scope of laws and law enforcement frameworks, stressing the need for precise and specifically designed directions, which the United Nations has provided through a number of relevant tools.
Turk spoke about following up on the implementation of the Human Rights Council resolution on combating acts of religious hatred, noting that his office will facilitate a wide-ranging consultation process with the aim of coming up with recommendations on ways to move forward on this issue.
He expressed his hope that "this process will ultimately provide a blueprint for states to adopt legal frameworks, law enforcement frameworks, and strong policies to confront the scourge of religious hatred - in line with international human rights law - and move quickly to ensure accountability."