October 27th, 2009 by Jason

The State Department has released its annual International Religious Freedom report this week. The report evaluates the extent people can practice their religion freely throughout the world. In the introduction of the report, the new Assistant Secretary of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, Michael Posner, reiterates President Obama’s belief that “religious freedom is a fundamental right, a social good, a source of stability, and a key to international security.”

Assistant Secretary Posner also delivered remarks upon the report’s release, explaining the U.S. does not act as the “world’s arbiter on religious freedom, but rather  as a member of a community of nations that have committed ourselves to upholding international human rights standards.” Posner explained there have been several improvements over the past year, such as the joint U.S.-Egyptian proposal to the Human Rights Council and a number of interfaith initiatives in Jordan, Qatar, Spain and elsewhere. However, the last year has also seen some negative developments, such as the proposal of overzealous blasphemy laws and increasing religious tension in Central Asia. Posner rejected the claim that Islam inherently contradicts human rights, asserting all religions are based on “assumptions of humanity and ethical behavior.”

Secretary Hillary Clinton spoke as well at the release, asserting that not only is “the right to profess, practice, and promote one’s religious belief […] a founding principle of our nation,” but it is also a universal value agreed upon by mankind.  She also contended that “the protection of speech about religion is particularly important since persons of different faiths will inevitably hold divergent views on religious questions. These differences should be met with tolerance, not with the suppression of discourse.”

Posted in Egypt, Freedom, Gulf, Human Rights, Islam and Democracy, Jordan, Publications, Saudi Arabia, US foreign policy |