Islam and the UN

Sometimes, the United Nations say things that make it hard to give it support -- especially in an age when the US sees little benefit in gaining UN approval for its actions around the globe -- when the UN needs any support it can get. The latest stupidity from the UN highlights the problem with the organization -- it basically treats all nations as equals -- when clearly, they're not. The UN Human Rights Council (HRC) voted 24 to 14 to adopt a resolution on Combating Defamation of Religions [DOC], which "expresses deep concern at attempts to identify Islam with terrorism, violence and human rights violations" -- especially in the aftermath of 9/11 -- and further, "urges States to take resolute action to prohibit the dissemination including through political institutions and organizations of racist and xenophobic ideas and material aimed at any religion or its followers that constitute incitement to racial and religious hatred, hostility or violence."

The result of the vote:

• In favour (24): Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cameroon, China, Cuba, Djibouti, Gabon, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Pakistan, Philippines, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Tunisia.
• Against (14): Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Guatemala, Japan, Netherlands, Poland, Republic of Korea, Romania, Switzerland, Ukraine and United Kingdom.
• Abstentions (9): Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Ghana, India, Nigeria, Peru, Uruguay and Zambia.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with passing a resolution that condemn the discrimination and persecution of the religious -- or those that practice any faith. The problem with this resolution is that it specifically singles out Islam for special treatment -- when religious intolerance is widely practiced, encouraged and enshrined in Islamic nations around the world -- including some of those that voted in favour of this resolution.

Membership in the HRC is what the problem is here -- and in general, it is the problem with the UN. The organization regularly puts the foxes in the hen house, then casts votes on whether to have chicken for dinner. It dilutes the credibility of the UN and only gives credence for those that wish to abolish the organization.