UN: Defamation of religions should be banned

Specifically to ban defamation against islam. Dawn

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 12: United Nations General Assembly President Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann said on Tuesday that the world body should ban defamation of all religions and disagreed that such a move would impinge upon freedom of speech.

“Yes, I believe that defamation of religion should be banned,” he said in response to a question at a press conference to highlight the interfaith conference at the UN headquarters. No one should try to defame Islam or any other religion, he said, adding: “We should respect all religions.”

Mr D’Escoto, a former Nicaraguan foreign minister who himself is a priest, said that religion was a very divisive subject and that’s why the meeting would concentrate on common ethical values to make a common front against hunger, ignorance and disease.