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"We are encouraged by this growing recognition by governments and religious leaders that extremism is a common enemy and that freedom and respectful religious coexistence are critical to our shared future,"
Secretary of State Hilary Clinton in response to the efforts by the Organization of the Islamic Conference to seek "defamation of religions" resolutions at the United Nations, said "individual's ability to practice his or her religion has no bearing on others' freedom of speech." However, being able to express your religion freely in one part of the world does not make it absolute. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) regard countries like Pakistan and Vietnam as areas of concern, when it comes to individuals rights to religious freedoms. Under the United States Constitution American people generally enjoy freedom of speech, a privilege that is not particularly universal. Perhaps this is why Secretary Clinton could say that one's freedom of speech can not be affected by another's right to religious freedom. Under freedom of speech, Americans are able to respond to things that they do not agreed with, or perhaps have some sort of dialogue to address the issue. However, consider other nations like China were according to the religious freedoms report, "repression of religious freedom remained severe in Tibetan areas." And if religious freedom and freedom of speech don't have any bearing on the other, then what is to be said for the State Department's department of Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor which is set to release a new list of countries of concern in January 2010?
- State Department's report on religious freedom in 198 countries released 10/26/09
Secretary of State Hilary Clinton in response to the efforts by the Organization of the Islamic Conference to seek "defamation of religions" resolutions at the United Nations, said "individual's ability to practice his or her religion has no bearing on others' freedom of speech." However, being able to express your religion freely in one part of the world does not make it absolute. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) regard countries like Pakistan and Vietnam as areas of concern, when it comes to individuals rights to religious freedoms. Under the United States Constitution American people generally enjoy freedom of speech, a privilege that is not particularly universal. Perhaps this is why Secretary Clinton could say that one's freedom of speech can not be affected by another's right to religious freedom. Under freedom of speech, Americans are able to respond to things that they do not agreed with, or perhaps have some sort of dialogue to address the issue. However, consider other nations like China were according to the religious freedoms report, "repression of religious freedom remained severe in Tibetan areas." And if religious freedom and freedom of speech don't have any bearing on the other, then what is to be said for the State Department's department of Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor which is set to release a new list of countries of concern in January 2010?
-O. Lucius
