- UN Racism Expert Doudou Diène addressed the General Assembly’s Third Committee on social, humanitarian and cultural affairs, noting a “resurgence” in racist and xenophobic violence, as well as growing “defamation of religions.” He cited racial as well as religious hatred, anti-Semitism, Christianophobia and, particularly, Islamophobia. Diène took the unusual step of criticizing French President Nicolas Sarkozy for a July 2007 speech in Dakar that allegedly stated that “Africans had not become part of history.” According to Diène, this was “an example of the legitimization of racism…it recalled the essentialism of racist constructions of the 18th and 19th centuries.”
- Diène also defended the Durban follow-up conference, saying it faced “a campaign to discredit its outcome.”
- Portugal, on behalf of the European Union (EU), expressed its full commitment to fight racism. Portugal said the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action was a “cornerstone” of the global fight against racial discrimination. However, the EU expressed its “previous disappointments” and raised doubts as to whether “certain countries” were interested in addressing all regions of the world.
- The ambassador of France vigorously defended Mr. Sarkozy, stating that the French President had “reaffirmed several times” that the fight against racism and xenophobia was among his top priorities.
- Israel asked Mr. Diène if he had considered ways in which states could combat rascim in schoolbooks [UN Watch confronted Mr. Diène on this same matter – to see UN Watch’s letters on the matter, click here or here].
- The United States expressed its concern about the concept of “defamation of religion,” citing its “chilling effect,” its ability to halt public debate, and its use to promote blasphemy laws.
- Libya said linking terrorism with Islam was a “big error.” In addition, Libya appeared to call for limits on free speech in the name of “defamation of religion,” asking the Special Rapporteur if “freedom of speech should not pose a threat [to] religious figures and related beliefs.”
- Pakistan said it was the time to declare “war on racism” and noted that a “worrisome phenomenon” had arisen against Muslims in the post-September 11 world.
- Sudan condemned racial discrimination and welcomed the upcoming Durban review conference. Sudan also decried discrimination against Muslim communities in Western countries in the aftermath of 9/11. Islam, which had been linked to terrorism, was a religion based on “tolerance that called for fraternity and friendship among people.” Sudan also called on the UN to “give more attention to what was happening in the Occupied Palestinian Territory” and called for the creation of a Palestinian state with “Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.”
- Egypt accused some governments of “encouraging” defamation of religions. According to the Egyptian representative, “clear cut boundaries” between freedom of expression and the infringement on the rights of others must be recognized.
- The observer for Palestine condemned Israel and stated that Israel’s military occupation showed the “colonial nature” of the Jewish state.
- Algeria condemned new forms of discrimination, in particular Islamophobia. Algeria also called upon the UN to protect the right of self-determination for the Palestinian people, as well as the people of Western Sahara.
- Iran claimed that the “indisputable” rights of the Palestinian people had been “denied and obstructed.” Iran called on Israel to return “ancestral lands to the people of Palestine.”
- Zimbabwe accused European countries, as well as the United States and Canada, of “violent” racism.
- Cuba accused “neo-liberal globalization” of perpetuating racism.
