Press Release:
CIHRS holds event on discrimination of religious minorities in Europe and Islamic countries at Durban Review Conference of United Nations
The Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) held a side event on the 24th of April entitled “Discrimination Against Religious Minorities: Challenges and Solutions.” The event served as a forum to reveal how religious minorities both within the Arab/Islamic regions and the EU are discriminated against, and to suggest ways in which states can begin to combat such discrimination without sacrificing internationally accepted human rights. The meeting was well attended, including representatives of the Organization of Islamic Conference, Turkey and France, and several media organizations.
The event began with an introduction by Moataz El Fegiery, Executive Director of the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, who gave an overview of religious minorities within the Arab region. Mr. El Fegiery highlighted the abuses of religious minorities in several countries in the region including Shiites in Saudi Arabia, Christians and Baha’i in Egypt and the condition of the majority religious community of Shiites of Bahrain. Moataz stressed that freedom of expression is necessary to combat discrimination against religious minorities throughout the region.
Hossam Bahgat, Director of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) spoke about the condition of religious minorities in Egypt. Discrimination occurs against Christians by the state through legal restrictions on the ability of Christians to build or repair places of worship. Legal restrictions have existed until this month on the ability of Baha’i religious community to attain identity documents and be recognized by state. The legal provision on “contempt of religions” is used by state and other actors against religious minorities, including Shiites, as a tool of persecution. These type of laws and policies contribute to the increasing level of sectarian conflict in the country
Diane Ala’I, UN Representative for the Baha’i International Community then addressed religious minorities in Iran with a concentration on the condition of the Baha’i religious community. Over 300,000 Baha’i are in Iran, making the Baha’i religious group the largest religious minority in Iran. Many rights abuses occur against Baha’i including arbitrary arrest, killings, and discrimination in the areas of employment, education and other areas. As in other countries “defamation of religion” is used as a tool to discriminate against religious minorities.
Mr. Clive Baldwin, Senior Legal Advisor for Human Rights Watch, then presented the findings of a recent HRW report entitled “Discrimination in the Name of Neutrality” which examined the recent bans on the ability of Muslim teachers in Germany to where head scarves, and which concludes that such policies constitute religious and gender discrimination.
CIHRS has been at the forefront of advocating for a positive result and text to be issued by the Durban Review Conference that will be effective in promoting equality and equal rights for all. This has included lobbing of states and media outreach throughout the Durban Review Conference. CIHRS has released three other press releases on the Durban Review which can be accesses at www.cihrs.net.
Contact: Arabic- Moataz El Fegiery Executive Director, CIHRS: +2 0123429991. [email protected]
English- Jeremie Smith Director-Geneva Office of CIHRS: +41 076 717 2477 [email protected]
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