Photo: Religious Freedom Centre Geneva (KNA) According to a United Nations expert, religiously motivated hatred must be tackled comprehensively and at its social roots. The promotion of hostility based on religious beliefs is widespread and a driver of polarisation and conflict around the world, the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion, Nazila Ghanea, told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Tuesday.
Conspiracy theories, myths and accusations of blasphemy or apostasy are warning signals that need to be addressed in order to prevent escalation, emphasised the Iranian human rights expert.
Ghanea warned against overlooking the propagation of religious intolerance and discrimination by entire states when focusing on individual agitators. Governments should ensure that legislation and their political programmes are free of hate and set up complaints mechanisms. Initiatives are needed to promote diversity in increasingly multicultural and interconnected societies.
Violations of religious symbols, such as the spectacular cases of Koran burnings, which could constitute criminal offences, must also be dealt with in accordance with human rights and in a carefully graduated manner, the Special Rapporteur demanded.