PakistanÂ’s ambassador to the United Nations Masood Khan on Tuesday denied that a resolution, moved by Pakistan and Egypt, restricted freedom of speech. The envoy, speaking on behalf of the 57-nation Organisation of the Islamic Conference at the UN, said the resolution sought responsibility along with freedom of expression.
The United States, Canada and several European countries had said that Islamic nations were trying to limit the freedom of speech at the UN. The resolution was passed by 32 to zero with the support of Islamic, Arab and African nations. European nations and several other countries abstained.
An amendment passed by the UN Human Rights Council on Friday directed the councilÂ’s expert on freedom of expression, Ambeyi Ligabo, a legal expert from Kenya, to report on those who abuse their right to free speech by espousing racial and religious discrimination.
Egypt’s Ambassador to the UN Sameh Shoukry said there was a growing trend to erode human rights law, permitting “some of the worst practices that incite racial and religious hatred”. |