In the last decade, the United Nations, as well as other international and regional institutions, have multiplied their appeals to governments, NGO's and religious institutions to fight against any form of xenophobia or racist and anti-religious ideas. In an attempt to curtail the spread of messages that could offend, target or vilify religious or ethnic communities, UN bodies have gone beyond the application of the traditional so called hate speech, introducing the defamation of religions discourse. Although the concerns underlying the UN Resolutions are understandable, it must be taken into account that freedom of expression risks being stifled by a censorious attitude from the State to any form of criticism, satire and opposition concerning sensitive religious issues, in order to mantain social cohesion.
Defamation of Religions in UN Documents: Some Critical Observations
ANGELETTI, Silvia
2010
Abstract
In the last decade, the United Nations, as well as other international and regional institutions, have multiplied their appeals to governments, NGO's and religious institutions to fight against any form of xenophobia or racist and anti-religious ideas. In an attempt to curtail the spread of messages that could offend, target or vilify religious or ethnic communities, UN bodies have gone beyond the application of the traditional so called hate speech, introducing the defamation of religions discourse. Although the concerns underlying the UN Resolutions are understandable, it must be taken into account that freedom of expression risks being stifled by a censorious attitude from the State to any form of criticism, satire and opposition concerning sensitive religious issues, in order to mantain social cohesion.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
