Restrictions [on free speech] should never be used to protect particular institutions or abstract notions, concepts or beliefs, including religious ones.

Frank la Rue, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to free expression, got a firm telling off by representatives of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference in Geneva last week. His crime? To suggest that

And that

defamation of religions does not accord with international standards on freedom of expression

Enraged diplomats from Egypt (on behalf of the African Group), United Arab Emirates (on behalf of the Arab Group), Pakistan (on behalf of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference), and individual delegations such as Algeria, Egypt, Malaysia, Sudan and Yemen claimed that La Rue was overstepping the bounds of his mandate by saying such things.

Many of them threatened to have La Rue removed from his post if he did not conform to their interpretation of his mandate.

Roy Brown of the International Humanist and Ethical Union summed up,

Mr LaRue’s report was strongly supported in the Council by the United States, the United Kingdom and several NGOs who pointed out that under the terms of his mandate he was fully entitled to make recommendations to the Council and the UN without pressure or outside interference. It is becoming intolerable that some states, unable to win arguments on their merits are now stooping to such blatant bully-boy tactics.

Allah forbid that an officer responsible for the protection of freedom of expression should be free to express his support for freedom of expression!

(Tip – Article 19)

UPDATE: (June 9) Read Roy Brown’s full report here.