LILLE, FRANCE: International organizations and the UN human rights body should criminalize all acts of religious defamation and discrimination, Sheikh Abdul Majeed Al-Omari, the director-general for external relations at the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs, said here on Saturday.
“Freedom of expression without limits or restrictions would lead to the violation and abuses of religious and ideological rights,” Al-Omari said during the opening of an international symposium on media coverage of religious symbols, in the light of international law, SPA reported.
Representatives from 16 European countries, a number of international organizations led by UNESCO, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Association of Islamic Universities are participating in the event.
He said the participation of Saudi Arabia in the symposium is in line with its efforts to support the principles of justice and humanity.
“Efforts should be made to criminalize insulting religions, Prophets, holy books, religious symbols and places of worship,” he said, pointing to such abuses that have led to intolerance, extremism and violation of human rights.
Kingdom calls for international law against defamation
