Excerpt:
For the tenth year, the United Nations' top human rights watchdog has passed a resolution on "defamation of religion," in the face of growing international criticism that its Islamic sponsors are trying to place constraints on free expression.
The Human Rights Council in Geneva on Thursday approved the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC)-proposed resolution by 23-11, while 13 countries abstained.
In a setback for opponents, the resolution won slightly more support than last year's one, which passed by 21-10, with 14 abstentions.
Countries voting in favor on Thursday included 15 of the 16 countries that are also members of the OIC – Burkina Faso alone went against the OIC line and abstained – along with OIC allies China, Russia, Cuba, South Africa, Angola, Nicaragua, Bolivia and the Philippines.