Istanbul Process: Censorship Through Subterfuge
The fall session of the Istanbul Process has concluded; while we await publication of their report we can reflect on the manifold deceptions which passed the lips of two participants. I have selected the most important phrases out of context for criticism.
- Amb. Suzan Johnson Cook's welcoming address with video:
- http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/rm/2011/178640.htm
- meetings that will advance respect for religious freedom and religious tolerance around the world.
- http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/rm/2011/178640.htm
- Non-Muslims are cursed.
- 2:161. Verily, those who disbelieve, and die while they are disbelievers, it is they on whom is the Curse of Allâh and of the angels and of mankind, combined.
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3:12. Say (O Muhammad ) to those who disbelieve: "You will be defeated and gathered together to Hell, and worst indeed is that place to rest."
- 9:30. And the Jews say: 'Uzair (Ezra) is the son of Allâh, and the Christians say: Messiah is the son of Allâh. That is a saying from their mouths. They imitate the saying of the disbelievers of old. Allâh's Curse be on them, how they are deluded away from the truth!
- Only Islam is accepted.
- 3:19. Truly, the religion with Allâh is Islâm. Those who were given the Scripture (Jews and Christians) did not differ except, out of mutual jealousy, after knowledge had come to them. And whoever disbelieves in the Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, signs, revelations, etc.) of Allâh, then surely, Allâh is Swift in calling to account.
- 3:85. And whoever seeks a religion other than Islâm, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers.
- Unbelief is a great evil under Shari'ah..
- Unbelief is the vilest form of corruption, as goes without saying. [Reliance of the Traveller O24.2
- Leaving Islam is the ugliest form of unbelief (kufr) and the worst. [08.0]
- ...a non-Muslim has no right to authority and hence no right to raise a Muslim. [M13.2]
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- false divide that pits religious sensitivities against freedom of expression [Quoting H.C.]
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- Resolution 16/18 secured an international consensus around an action-oriented approach to combat religious intolerance in line with respect for universal human rights—including religious freedom and freedom of expression.
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Expresses deep concern at the continued serious instances of derogatory
stereotyping, negative profiling and stigmatization of persons based on their religion or
belief, as well as programmes and agendas pursued by extremist organizations and groups
aimed at creating and perpetuating negative stereotypes about religious groups, in particular
when condoned by Governments;
stereotyping, negative profiling and stigmatization of persons based on their religion or
belief, as well as programmes and agendas pursued by extremist organizations and groups
aimed at creating and perpetuating negative stereotypes about religious groups, in particular
when condoned by Governments;
"Derogatory stereotyping " & "negative stereotypes" are encrypted references to associating Islam with terrorism. Last year's GA resolution expresses it this way:
Also emphasizes that no religion should be equated with terrorism, as this
may have adverse consequences on the enjoyment of the right to freedom of religion
or belief of all members of the religious communities concerned;
may have adverse consequences on the enjoyment of the right to freedom of religion
or belief of all members of the religious communities concerned;
Oh, but that meme has been abandoned, hasn't it? Yeah, right. Two resolutions came out of the Third Committee in November, one based on 19/18 and
A/C.3/66/L.48/Rev.1 : "Elimination of all forms of intolerance and of discrimination based on religion or belief".
Also emphasizes that no religion should be equated with terrorism, as this
may have adverse consequences on the enjoyment of the right to freedom of religion
or belief of all members of the religious communities concerned;
may have adverse consequences on the enjoyment of the right to freedom of religion
or belief of all members of the religious communities concerned;
Islam = terrorism because Allah said that he would cast terror, did cast terror & Moe said that it made him victorious. I present to you relevant, verifiable proof from the Qur'an, Tafsir Ibn Kathir & Sahih Bukhari, the most authentic of the six canonical hadith collections.
- 3:151. We shall cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve
- ...Allah next conveys the good news that He will put fear of the Muslims, and feelings of subordination to the Muslims in the hearts of their disbelieving enemies, because of their Kufr and Shirk. ... The Prohibition of Obeying the Disbelievers; the Cause of Defeat at Uhud
- 7:4. How many a township have We destroyed! As a raid by night, or while they slept at noon, Our terror came unto them.
- Our torment came upon them by night or while they were taking their midday nap. ) means, Allah's command, torment and vengeance came over them at night or while taking a nap in the middle of the day. Both of these times are periods of rest and leisure or heedlessness and amusement. Nations that were destroyed
- 8:12. (Remember) when your Lord inspired the angels, "Verily, I am with you, so keep firm those who have believed. I will cast terror into the hearts of those who have disbelieved, so strike them over the necks, and smite over all their fingers and toes."
- ...(I will cast terror into the hearts of those who have disbelieved.) means, `you -- angels -- support the believers, strengthen their (battle) front against their enemies, thus, implementing My command to you. I will cast fear, disgrace and humiliation over those who defied My command and denied My Messenger, (so strike them over the necks, and smite over all their fingers and toes.) strike them on their foreheads to tear them apart and over the necks to cut them off, and cut off their limbs, hands and feet....Allah commands the Angels to fight and support the Believers
- 8:60. Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into (the hearts of) the enemies, of God and your enemies, and others besides, whom ye may not know, but whom God doth know. Whatever ye shall spend in the cause of God, shall be repaid unto you, and ye shall not be treated unjustly.
- (to threaten), or to strike fear, the enemy of Allah and your enemy), the disbelievers, Making Preparations for War to strike Fear in the Hearts of the Enemies of Allah
- 33:26. And those of the people of the Scripture who backed them (the disbelievers) Allah brought them down from their forts and cast terror into their hearts, (so that) a group (of them) you killed, and a group (of them) you made captives.
- (and cast terror into their hearts;) means fear, because they had supported the idolators in their war against the Messenger of Allah and the one who knows is not like the one who does not know. They had terrified the Muslims and intended to kill them so as to gain earthly power, but their plans backfired; the idolators ran away and the believers were victorious while the disbelievers were losers; where they had aimed for glory, they were humiliated. The Campaign against Banu Qurayzah
- 59:2. He it is Who drove out the disbelievers among the people of the Scripture (i.e. the Jews of the tribe of Bani An-Nadir) from their homes at the first gathering. You did not think that they would get out. And they thought that their fortresses would defend them from Allah! But Allah's (Torment) reached them from a place whereof they expected it not, and He cast terror into their hearts, so that they destroyed their own dwellings with their own hands and the hands of the believers. Then take admonition, O you with eyes (to see).
- ...Therefore, Allah sent His torment down on them; it can never be averted, and His appointed destiny touched them; it can never be resisted. The Prophet forced them to evacuate and abandon their fortified forts that Muslims did not think they would ever control. ...Then take admonition, O you with eyes.) meaning, "Contemplate the end of those who defied Allah's command, contradicted His Messenger and denied His Book. See how Allah's humiliating torment struck them in this life, as well as, the painful torment that Allah has reserved for them in the Hereafter.''... The End that Bani An-Nadir suffered
- ...Therefore, Allah sent His torment down on them; it can never be averted, and His appointed destiny touched them; it can never be resisted. The Prophet forced them to evacuate and abandon their fortified forts that Muslims did not think they would ever control. ...Then take admonition, O you with eyes.) meaning, "Contemplate the end of those who defied Allah's command, contradicted His Messenger and denied His Book. See how Allah's humiliating torment struck them in this life, as well as, the painful torment that Allah has reserved for them in the Hereafter.''... The End that Bani An-Nadir suffered
- 59:13. Of a truth ye are stronger (than they) because of the terror in their hearts, (sent) by God. This is because they are men devoid of understanding.
- ...(Verily, you are more fearful in their breasts than Allah.) meaning, the hypocrites fear you more than they fear Allah, as He says; (Behold! a section of them fear men as they fear Allah or even more.)... The False Promise of Support the Hypocrites gave to the Jews
- 8:57. So if you gain the mastery over them in war, punish them severely in order to disperse those who are behind them, so that they may learn a lesson.
- ...(then disperse those who are behind them,) by severely punishing ﴿the captured people﴾ according to Ibn `Abbas, Al-Hasan Al-Basri, Ad-Dahhak, As-Suddi, `Ata' Al-Khurasani and Ibn `Uyaynah. This Ayah commands punishing them harshly and inflicting casualties on them. This way, other enemies, Arabs and non-Arabs, will be afraid and take a lesson from their end,... Striking Hard against Those Who disbelieve and break the Covenants
- Sahih Bukhari Volume 1, Book 7, Number 331:
Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah:
The Prophet said, "I have been given five things which were not given to any one else before me.
1. Allah made me victorious by awe, (by His frightening my enemies) for a distance of one month's journey. . - Sahih Bukhari Volume 4, Book 52, Number 220:
Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "I have been sent with the shortest expressions bearing the widest meanings, and I have been made victorious with terror(cast in the hearts of the enemy), and while I was sleeping, the keys of the treasures of the world were brought to me and put in my hand." Abu Huraira added: Allah's Apostle has left the world and now you, people, are bringing out those treasures (i.e. the Prophet did not benefit by them).
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- calls on states to take specific measures to combat religious intolerance
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Expresses its concern that incidents of religious intolerance, discrimination
and related violence, as well as of negative stereotyping of individuals on the basis of
religion or belief, continue to rise around the world, and condemns, in this context, any
advocacy of religious hatred against individuals that constitutes incitement to
discrimination, hostility or violence, and urges States to take effective measures, as set forth
in the present resolution, consistent with their obligations under international human rights
law, to address and combat such incidents;
and related violence, as well as of negative stereotyping of individuals on the basis of
religion or belief, continue to rise around the world, and condemns, in this context, any
advocacy of religious hatred against individuals that constitutes incitement to
discrimination, hostility or violence, and urges States to take effective measures, as set forth
in the present resolution, consistent with their obligations under international human rights
law, to address and combat such incidents;
- incidents of
- intolerance: Islamophobia
- negative stereotyping: Terrorism is an intrinsic sacrament of Islam :. Muslims are terrorists.
- avocacy of religious hatred
- constitutes incitement
- discrimination
- hostility
- violence: any & every criticism of Islam, exemplified by Fitna, the Motoons & Qur'an burning
- constitutes incitement
- effective measures: legislation and its enforcement
- consistent with their obligations under international human rights law: International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights(ICCPR)
Article 19
1. Everyone shall have the right to hold opinions without interference
2. Everyone shall have the right to freedom of expression: this right shall include freedom to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas of all kinds, regardless of frontiers, either orally, in writing or in print, in the form of art, or through any other media of this choice
3. The exercise of the rights provided for in paragraph 2 of this article carries with it special duties and responsibilities. It may therefore be subject to certain restrictions, but these shall only be such as provided by law and are necessary.
(a) For respect of the rights or reputations of others;
(b) For the protection of national security or of public order (ordre public), or of public health or morals.
Article 20
1. Any propaganda for war shall be prohibited by law
2. Any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence shall be prohibited by law.
"(1) That article 20 does not authorize or require legislation or other action by the United States that would restrict the right of free speech and association protected by the Constitution and laws of the United States.
Several of the resolutions make allusion to 19.3, attempting to stretch 19.3.a to cover Islam. Note that the U.S.A. reserved our First Amendment right of free expression. Several resolutions bitterly kvetch about that reservation, demanding its repeal. The HRC has an Ad Hoc Committee on Elaboration of Complementary Standards whose mission is to write a binding protocol which will insert the provisions of previous defamation of Islam resolutions into one of the human rights covenants. Define advocacy of hatred that constitutes incitement. Exactly what does that expression in 20.2 mean in the real world. For the answer, we must turn to the Secretary General.
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Reuters quotes U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon about Fitna:"There is no justification for hate speech or incitement to violence," Ban said in a statement. "The right of free expression is not at stake here."
According to Ban, the short documentary by Geert Wilders meets the test of 20.2. There is one little problem: Fitna is an exposure of incitement, it is not incitement. I direct doubters & dissenters to this blog post which documents Fitna's scriptural citations: The intention of HRC 16/18 is to criminalize Fitna, the Motoons, this blog post and every criticism of Islam.
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- Those rights include the right to believe and the right practice a religion not sanctioned by the state -- or no religion at all.
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Allah said that only he has the right to be worshiped. Get a clue.
- 3:2. Allâh! Lâ ilahâ illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the Ever Living, the One Who sustains and protects all that exists.
- O11.5 -6- are forbidden to openly display wine or pork, (A: to ring church bells or display crosses,) recite the Torah or Evangel aloud, or make public display of their funerals and feastdays; -7- and are forbidden to build new churches.
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- This purpose is to advance religious freedom, promote religious tolerance, and combat discrimination on the basis of religion or belief—consistent with universal human rights principles.
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- protect religious minorities and protect freedom of expression
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- some people distort various religious doctrines to justify intolerance, foment violence, or create strife that serves their narrow political purposes
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- faith must never be a crime and religion must never be used as an excuse to stifle freedom of expression.
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- Remarks at the Istanbul Process for Combating Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief
- http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2011/12/178866.htm
- working together to protect two fundamental freedoms – the right to practice one’s religion freely and the right to express one’s opinion without fear.
- http://www.state.gov/secretary/rm/2011/12/178866.htm
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- this resolution marks a step forward in creating a safe global environment for practicing and expressing one’s beliefs
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- In it, we pledge to protect the freedom of religion for all while also protecting freedom of expression.
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- born free to practice any religion, to change our religion, or to have none at all.
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- they are not rights bestowed by any government. They are rights endowed by our Creator within each of us. And therefore, we have a special obligation to protect these God-given rights.
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- restricting the practice of anyone’s faith is a threat to the human rights of all individuals.
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- my ability to practice my religious faith freely does not, and indeed cannot, diminish yours
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- Religion can be such a powerful bond, but we also recognize that it can be misused to create conflict.
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- There are those who, for reasons actually having little to do with religion, seek to instill fear or contempt for those of another creed.
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- So we believe that it is the duty of every government to ensure that individuals are not subject to violence, discrimination, or intimidation because of their faith or their lack of faith.
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- At the same time, as we strive to protect individuals from violence and discrimination because of their religion or their beliefs, we must also express the freedom of expression.
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- Well, how would one know that you were being discriminated against if you didn’t have the right to freedom of expression?
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- So the freedom of religion and the freedom of expression are absolutely bound up together.
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- Now, there are those who have always seen a tension between these two freedoms, especially when one person’s speech seems to question someone else’s religious beliefs,
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- or maybe even offends that person’s beliefs.
- But the truth we have learned, through a lot of trial and error over more than 235 years in our country, is that we defend our beliefs best by defending free expression for everyone, and it lowers the temperature. It creates an environment in which you are free to exercise and to speak about your religion, whether your neighbor or someone across the town agrees with you or not.
- In fact, the appropriate answer to speech that offends is more speech.
- or maybe even offends that person’s beliefs.
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- It is hurtful when bigotry pollutes the public sphere,
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- but the state does not silence ideas, no matter how disagreeable they might be,
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- because we believe that in the end, the best way to treat offensive speech is by people either ignoring it or combating it with good arguments and good speech that overwhelms it.
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- So we do speak out and condemn hateful speech.
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- In fact, we think it is our duty to do so,
- but we don’t ban it or criminalize it.
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- Now, with Resolution 1618, we have clarified these dual objectives.
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- We embrace the role that free expression plays in bolstering religious tolerance.
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- We have agreed to build a culture of understanding and acceptance through
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- concrete measures to combat discrimination and violence,
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- such as education and outreach, and we are working together to achieve those objectives.
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- it’s one thing if people are just disagreeing. That is fair game. That’s free speech.
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- But if it results in sectarian clashes,
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- if it results in the destruction or the defacement or the vandalization of religious sites,
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- if it even results in imprisonment or death,
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- then government must held those – hold those who are responsible accountable.
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- But I have to say we have one difficulty in understanding all of the problems that we see around the world, and that is
- that because religion is so personal and because it is something that we highly value in ourselves,
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- To whom do the spoils belong?
- Who gets the top 20%?
- What was Moe's motivation?
- What is Allah's motivation? [Hint: it ain't getting Moe into his celestial bordello.]
- What was the net effect of casting terror?
- What did Allah promise Muslims?
- What is the legal status of taking spoils?
- What did Allah give Moe?
- How did Muslims invest the treasures of the Persian & Byzantine Empires?
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- it strikes us as troubling that people are not confident in their religious beliefs
- to the point where they do not fear speech that raises questions about religion.
- it strikes us as troubling that people are not confident in their religious beliefs
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- every one of us who is a religious person knows that there are some who may not support or approve of our religion.
- But is our religion so weak that statements of disapproval will cause us to lose our faiths?
- every one of us who is a religious person knows that there are some who may not support or approve of our religion.
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- That would be most unfortunate. In fact, what we have found, in study after study, is that the United States is one of the most religious countries in the world. And yet anybody can believe anything and go anywhere.
- And so there is no contradiction between having strong religious beliefs and having the freedom to exercise them and to speak about them and to even have good debates with others.
- That would be most unfortunate. In fact, what we have found, in study after study, is that the United States is one of the most religious countries in the world. And yet anybody can believe anything and go anywhere.
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- Now, the fact is that no matter how strongly each of us believes, none of us has the benefit of knowing all the truth that God holds in his hands.
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- And therefore, we are doing the best we can here on earth to reflect and to give honor to our creator in a way that is manifest in our religious values. Because truly, at the root of every major religion, is a connection with the divinity,
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- Now I know that some in my country and elsewhere have criticized this meeting and our work with all of you.
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- But I want to make clear that I am proud of this work, and I am proud to be working with every one of you. And I believe that this work is an affirmation of America’s values, but equally important an affirmation of universal values.
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- Because we nor – no country individually has a monopoly on the truth, and we will do better when we live in peace with each other,
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- when we live with respect and humility, and listen to each other. And it is important that we recognize what we accomplished when this resolution ended 10 years of divisive debate where people were not listening to each other anymore.
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- Now we are. We’re talking. We have to get past the idea that we can suppress religious minorities,
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- that we can restrict speech,
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- that we are smart enough that we can substitute our judgment for God’s and determine who is or is not blaspheming.
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- And by bringing countries from around the world here,
- we are affirming our common humanity
- and our common commitment to defend and promote fundamental rights.
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- We can think others are wrong, but we don’t feel so insecure and so fearful of their wrong views that we try to suppress them, imprison them, or even kill them.
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