Final statement at Geneva is dangerous

The final statement passed at the UN anti-racism conference in Geneva is not an acceptable compromise but a dangerous document, the daily De Standaard writes. "How can a satisfactory compromise be reached between democracies and dictatorships on fundamental rights like freedom of conscience? This is a point where you can't be 'a little bit pregnant'. This is weak point in the Durban II final statement, which among other things condemns 'Islamophobia' and 'Christophobia' and thus puts the protection of religion above the protection of people. The term 'Islamophobia', we should be aware, was used as a weapon against reform-conscious Muslims by fundamentalist Muslim regimes. This term is also used for example in purportedly moderate Egypt with great 'success' to condemn Muslim intellectuals."

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