UN human Rights Council Passes Religious Hatred Resolution amid U.S., European Opposition

“We strongly believe that hatred withers in the face of public scrutiny,” Taylor said, “and that limiting freedom of expression will only force hateful ideas to find new venues in which to manifest and call undue attention to acts that we would not wish to amplify.”

The document passed by the council, meanwhile, argued that “the exercise of the right to freedom of expression carries with it special duties and responsibilities,” and that freedom of religion and freedom of expression are “interdependent, interrelated, and mutually reinforcing.”

The controversial Quran destruction that took place in Sweden was condemned earlier this month by Pope Francis, who said he was “outraged and disgusted” by the display.  

“Any book considered sacred by its people must be respected out of respect for those who believe in it,” Pope Francis said July 3. “The freedom of expression should never be used as an excuse to offend others. Allowing that is [to be] rejected and condemned.” 

Earlier on Tuesday, Volker Türk, the high commissioner for human rights at the U.N., said in an address at the Human Rights Council that recent examples of anti-religious bigotry around the globe “appear to have been manufactured to express contempt and inflame anger; to drive wedges between people; and to provoke, transforming differences of perspective into hatred and, perhaps, violence.” 

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“Political and religious leaders have a particularly crucial role to play in speaking out clearly, firmly, and immediately against disrespect and intolerance,” he said, “not only of their own communities, but of any group subjected to attack.”

Daniel Payne is a senior editor at Catholic News Agency. He previously worked at the College Fix and Just the News. He lives in Virginia with his family.