UN Report Shows Global Increase in Religious Discrimination

September 22, 2005

Source: UN News Centre

http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=15944&Cr=discriminat&Cr1=

On September 22, 2005 the UN News Centre reported, "As a result of the proliferation of anti-terrorist policy, discrimination against religious groups, minorities and migrant populations is on the rise, particularly at waiting areas at airports, ports and borders, the United Nations' top official for monitoring racism warns in his latest report to the UN General Assembly. 'The General Assembly is invited to draw the attention of Member States to the alarming signs of a retreat in the struggle against racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia as a result of the growing number of counter-terrorism policies that generate new forms of discrimination against groups and entire communities, religions and spiritual traditions,' writes Doudou Diene, the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on racism and related intolerance. In that context, he said that discrimination against Muslims must be given special attention, but greater vigilance might also be needed against anti-Semitism and 'Christianophobia.' As discrimination is increasing in waiting areas of transportation facilities, the report recommends that Assembly Members take measures to prevent those areas from becoming so-called 'no rights zones.'"