Concerns have been raised by the National Secular
Society that the UK's stance on free speech could be compromised by an
agreement signed at the United Nations between this country and the
Organisation of Islamic Co-operation (OIC).
The
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by Baroness Sayeeda Warsi –
the new "Minister for Faith" - and pledges that theUKand the OIC will
"work together on issues of peace, stability and religious freedom."
At
present, the OIC is agitating at the United Nations for a global
blasphemy law that would make criticising or satirising religion a
punishable offence.
Terry Sanderson, president of the
National Secular Society, said: "We are all for co-operation between
nations to try to foster peace and understanding, but the concept of
'religious freedom' is one that the OIC has distorted to mean
restrictions on free expression.
"We hope that by
signing this document the UK will not in any way compromise its
commitment to human rights – particularly the human right to free
speech. The British Government has been steadfast in its opposition to
the OIC's blasphemy proposals up until now. We hope that this document
will not change that in any way."
Baroness Warsi's
other remit – as well as being 'Minister for Faith' – is at the Foreign
Office and includes being the lead minister responsible for Pakistan,
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Central Asia, the UN, the International
Criminal Court and the OIC, which is the largest multi-lateral
organisation in the world after the UN.
She became
the first British minister to speak at the OIC's conference in June 2011
in Astana, Kazakstan. Previously she had hosted the secretary-general
of the OIC in London and visited its secretariat in Jeddah, while she
was in Saudi Arabia for performing Hajj. This led to the appointment of
Britain's first special representative to organisation and its 57
members. Baroness Warsi has visited Pakistan five times during the past
two and a half years in government, a country, which was so central to
the formation of the Islamic Conference.
In the
landmark agreement there is a particular emphasis on promoting the "key
role Muslims have played in shaping modern Britain" and encouraging
Muslim communities to play a key role at all levels in public life.
Lady
Warsi said: "When I addressed the OIC Conference in Kazakhstanin June
2011, I said we face the global challenges together. This agreement
formalises that establishing our many, many areas of co-operation, from
security to conflict prevention; from religious freedom to human rights.
One of the central aims of my new role will be to strengthen this
relationship further and I am looking forward to ensuring we continue to
work closely to achieve our mutual goals."
She also
praised the Framework Co-operation Agreement, signed with the OIC's
secretary-general, for its focus on promoting inter-religious
understanding and interfaith dialogue, especially as these are two vital
areas in the senior minister's new governmental role.
Terry
Sanderson commented: "There is certainly a need for some kind of
inter-religious understanding among OIC member states, a number of which
suppress Christianity and other religions in a brutal and merciless
fashion.
"The blasphemy law which is being proposed
by the OIC on behalf of its members would be an entirely dangerous and
regressive step if it were to be approved at the UN. It is quite clear
that it would be used to persecute and oppress non-Muslim minorities in
Muslim-majority countries, as the domestic blasphemy law in Pakistan
does at present.
Mr Sanderson continued: "In Egypt the blasphemy laws are also used to get rid of political opponents
and are sometimes used as a means of revenge by neighbours or
colleagues who are in dispute. We do not need this kind of primitive
legislation in our democracies and we need reassurance from our
Government that their resolve remains unaffected by the signing of this
agreement with the OIC."
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