By: ICLA Admin
ICLA
Submission from ACT for America 5280 Coalition.
This submission can also be found on the OSCE website.
HUMAN DIMENSION IMPLEMENTATION MEETING
Freedom of Religion or Belief, Working Session 6
Thursday 26 September 2013
Two Systems of Human Rights:
Mr./Mme Moderator:
I am honored to be able to share my concerns with the OSCE. There are two versions of Human Rights in the world today: the Universal Declaration of Human Rights(1 ) of 1948 and the Cairo Declaration of Human Rights under Islam of 1990.(2) Although the Cairo Declaration was filed as sort of an exception to the Universal Declaration, it is sad to say that they are hopelessly incompatible. Let me give an example.
Article 18 of the Universal Declaration states:
“Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes the righto change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice worship and observance.”
Yet Article 10 of the Cairo Declaration states:
“Islam is the religion of unspoiled nature. It is prohibited to exercise any form of compulsion on man or to exploit his poverty or ignorance in order to convert him to another religion or to atheism.”
And there are ample examples of ahadith that condemn to death those who leave Islam.(3) Mr./Mme Moderator: it’s hard to see how these two views can ever be reconciled.
The Act for America 5280 Coalition recommends that the OSCE review these documents and decide how it can build a “Mediterranean” north south alliance with cultures whose values are utterly opposed to our fundamental values of the Universal Human Rights.
Thank you Mr./Mme. Moderator
