India backed Pakistan’s resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHCR) condemning Quran burning protests across Europe.

The resolution called for the governments to enforce stricter measures to prevent religious hatred, while the West countries opposed it claiming that intervention could hamper freedom of expression.

On Wednesday, the resolution, brought by Pakistan and Palestine, got a tremendous response with a 28-12 vote, while seven nations abstained. It was introduced on behalf of the 57-nation Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

Many developing countries supported the measure, including China, India, and nations in West Asia&nbsp;(Middle East) and Africa.

Among the countries who were against the resolution were the United States and the European Union, who said that it goes against their view on human rights and freedom of expression.

The resolution comes in the wake of Swedish authorities allowing an Iraqi immigrant to burn the Quran outside a Stockholm mosque last month, sparking outrage across the Muslim world and demands by Muslim states for action.

WATCH | Quran burning: Countries summon Swedish ambassadors

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<h2>'Does not seek to curtail the right to free speech'</h2>

Following the conclusion of the vote, Pakistan’s Ambassador Khalil Hashmi clarified that the measure “does not seek to curtail the right to free speech,” instead, it tries to strike a “prudent balance” between it and “special duties and responsibilities.”

“The opposition of a few in the room has emanated from their unwillingness to condemn the public desecration of the Holy Quran or any other religious book,” Hashmi said, reports AP news agency.

“They lack political, legal and moral courage to condemn this act, and it was the minimum that the council could have expected from them.”

The US Permanent Representative to the U.N. Human Rights Council, Michele Taylor, on the other hand, decried the vote's outcome, saying that the United States' concerns about the initiative "were not taken seriously."

"I believe with a little more time and more open discussion, we could have also found a way forward together on this resolution," she said.

Sweden has been in the crosshairs of a raging debate whether to uphold freedom of expression or prevent the acts that are deemed to be targeting a particular community, especially the Muslims, in the wake of the Quran burning protests.

On June 28, an Iraqi immigrant to Sweden ripped, burned, and&nbsp;stomped on the Quran&nbsp;outside a Stockholm mosque last month during the Eid al-Adha holiday.

Swedish police had authorised the gathering, but they subsequently opened an investigation for "agitation against an ethnic group", on the grounds that the burning took place in front of a mosque.

(With inputs from agencies)

&nbsp;

WATCH WION LIVE HERE

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India backed Pakistan’s resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHCR) condemning Quran burning protests across Europe. The resolution called for the governments to enforce stricter measures to prevent religious hatred, while the West countries opposed it claiming that intervention could hamper freedom of expression.

India backed Pakistan’s resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHCR) condemning Quran burning protests across Europe. The resolution called for the governments to enforce stricter measures to prevent religious hatred, while the West countries opposed it claiming that intervention could hamper freedom of expression. On Wednesday, the resolution, brought by Pakistan and Palestine, got a tremendous response with a 28-12 vote, while seven nations abstained. It was introduced on behalf of the 57-nation Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Many developing countries supported the measure, including China, India, and nations in West Asia (Middle East) and Africa. Among the countries who were against the resolution were the United States and the European Union, who said that it goes against their view on human rights and freedom of expression. The resolution comes in the wake of Swedish authorities allowing an Iraqi immigrant to burn the Quran outside a Stockholm mosque last month, sparking outrage across the Muslim world and demands by Muslim states for action. WATCH | Quran burning: Countries summon Swedish ambassadors 'Does not seek to curtail the right to free speech' Following the conclusion of the vote, Pakistan’s Ambassador Khalil Hashmi clarified that the measure “does not seek to curtail the right to free speech,” instead, it tries to strike a “prudent balance” between it and “special duties and responsibilities.” “The opposition of a few in the room has emanated from their unwillingness to condemn the public desecration of the Holy Quran or any other religious book,” Hashmi said, reports AP news agency. “They lack political, legal and moral courage to condemn this act, and it was the minimum that the council could have expected from them.” The US Permanent Representative to the U.N. Human Rights Council, Michele Taylor, on the other hand, decried the vote's outcome, saying that the United States' concerns about the initiative "were not taken seriously." "I believe with a little more time and more open discussion, we could have also found a way forward together on this resolution," she said. Sweden has been in the crosshairs of a raging debate whether to uphold freedom of expression or prevent the acts that are deemed to be targeting a particular community, especially the Muslims, in the wake of the Quran burning protests. On June 28, an Iraqi immigrant to Sweden ripped, burned, and stomped on the Quran outside a Stockholm mosque last month during the Eid al-Adha holiday. Swedish police had authorised the gathering, but they subsequently opened an investigation for "agitation against an ethnic group", on the grounds that the burning took place in front of a mosque. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

India backs Pakistan’s resolution at UN condemning Quran burning protests

The top United Nations human rights official has strongly condemned last week's suicide bomb attack against Indian security forces in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir calling on authorities to bring those responsible to justice.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) Michelle Bachelet is also saddened by the further loss of life from subsequent gun battles in the same area Monday, the spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Rupert Colville said in Geneva Tuesday.

"The High Commissioner strongly condemns the suicide bomb attack against Indian security forces in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on 14 February and calls on authorities to bring those responsible to justice," Colville said.

A suicide bomber from the Jaish-e-Mohammed group drove his explosives-laden vehicle into a CRPF bus last week, killing 40 jawans and critically wounding others.

In a major encounter in Pulwama's Pinglan area Monday, two Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists, including a Pakistani commander of the group being investigated for his role in the February 14 attack, and an Army major were among the seven people killed.

The gun battle took place in Pinglan area, about 12 km from the spot of last week's terror attack. The encounter also claimed the lives of three other Army personnel, officials said. The slain terrorists were identified as Kamran, a Pakistani national and top commander of the Jaish, and Hilal Ahmad, a local recruited by the terror group, they said.

The UN Human Rights chief expressed hope that escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours "will not add further to the insecurity in the region".

In the wake of the Pulwama terror attack, Colville said the High Commissioner is also "concerned" by reports from India that "some elements" are using the attack as "justification for threats and potential acts of violence" targeting Kashmiri people living in different parts of India.

In New Delhi, India's Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday directed officials to ensure protection of innocent Kashmiris living in different parts of the country.

"We acknowledge actions taken by the Indian authorities to tackle these incidents and we hope that the Government will continue to take steps to protect people from all forms of harm that may be directed at them on account of their ethnicity or identity," Colville said.

The top United Nations human rights official has strongly condemned last week's suicide bomb attack against Indian security forces in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir calling on authorities to bring those responsible to justice.

The top United Nations human rights official has strongly condemned last week's suicide bomb attack against Indian security forces in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir calling on authorities to bring those responsible to justice. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) Michelle Bachelet is also saddened by the further loss of life from subsequent gun battles in the same area Monday, the spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Rupert Colville said in Geneva Tuesday. "The High Commissioner strongly condemns the suicide bomb attack against Indian security forces in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on 14 February and calls on authorities to bring those responsible to justice," Colville said. A suicide bomber from the Jaish-e-Mohammed group drove his explosives-laden vehicle into a CRPF bus last week, killing 40 jawans and critically wounding others. In a major encounter in Pulwama's Pinglan area Monday, two Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorists, including a Pakistani commander of the group being investigated for his role in the February 14 attack, and an Army major were among the seven people killed. The gun battle took place in Pinglan area, about 12 km from the spot of last week's terror attack. The encounter also claimed the lives of three other Army personnel, officials said. The slain terrorists were identified as Kamran, a Pakistani national and top commander of the Jaish, and Hilal Ahmad, a local recruited by the terror group, they said. The UN Human Rights chief expressed hope that escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours "will not add further to the insecurity in the region". In the wake of the Pulwama terror attack, Colville said the High Commissioner is also "concerned" by reports from India that "some elements" are using the attack as "justification for threats and potential acts of violence" targeting Kashmiri people living in different parts of India. In New Delhi, India's Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday directed officials to ensure protection of innocent Kashmiris living in different parts of the country. "We acknowledge actions taken by the Indian authorities to tackle these incidents and we hope that the Government will continue to take steps to protect people from all forms of harm that may be directed at them on account of their ethnicity or identity," Colville said.

UN Human Rights chief strongly condemns Pulwama terror attack

United Nations human rights boss Michelle Bachelet called on Bangladesh on Tuesday to halt plans to repatriate 2,200 Rohingya refugees to Myanmar, warning that their lives would be at "serious risk".

Forcibly returning or expelling refugees and asylum-seekers to their home country would violate international law which forbids it to places where returnees face threats of persecution or their lives would be endangered, she said.

More than 700,000 Rohingya refugees crossed into Bangladesh from western Myanmar, UN agencies say, after Rohingya insurgent attacks on Myanmar security forces in August, 2017 triggered a sweeping military crackdown.

The two countries agreed on Oct. 30 to begin the returns to Myanmar in mid-November. Earlier on Tuesday, a senior official of the UN refugee agency Volker Turk said that conditions in Rakhine state were not yet conducive for Rohingya to return, citing restrictions on their movement and lack of political rights including citizenship.

"We are witnessing terror and panic among those Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar who are at imminent risk of being returned to Myanmar against their will," Bachelet said in a statement, adding that two men have attempted suicide.

Human rights violations committed against the Rohingya in Myanmar amount to the worst atrocities, including crimes against humanity and possibly even genocide, she said, referring to atrocities documented by UN investigators.

"With an almost complete lack of accountability – indeed with ongoing violations – returning Rohingya refugees to Myanmar at this point effectively means throwing them back into the cycle of human rights violations that this community has been suffering for decades," she said.

The UN human rights office continued to receive reports of ongoing violations committed against Rohingya in northern Rakhine, Myanmar - including alleged killings, disappearances and arbitrary arrests, Bachelet said.

United Nations human rights boss Michelle Bachelet called on Bangladesh on Tuesday to halt plans to repatriate 2,200 Rohingya refugees to Myanmar, warning that their lives would be at "serious risk".

United Nations human rights boss Michelle Bachelet called on Bangladesh on Tuesday to halt plans to repatriate 2,200 Rohingya refugees to Myanmar, warning that their lives would be at "serious risk". Forcibly returning or expelling refugees and asylum-seekers to their home country would violate international law which forbids it to places where returnees face threats of persecution or their lives would be endangered, she said. More than 700,000 Rohingya refugees crossed into Bangladesh from western Myanmar, UN agencies say, after Rohingya insurgent attacks on Myanmar security forces in August, 2017 triggered a sweeping military crackdown. The two countries agreed on Oct. 30 to begin the returns to Myanmar in mid-November. Earlier on Tuesday, a senior official of the UN refugee agency Volker Turk said that conditions in Rakhine state were not yet conducive for Rohingya to return, citing restrictions on their movement and lack of political rights including citizenship. "We are witnessing terror and panic among those Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar who are at imminent risk of being returned to Myanmar against their will," Bachelet said in a statement, adding that two men have attempted suicide. Human rights violations committed against the Rohingya in Myanmar amount to the worst atrocities, including crimes against humanity and possibly even genocide, she said, referring to atrocities documented by UN investigators. "With an almost complete lack of accountability – indeed with ongoing violations – returning Rohingya refugees to Myanmar at this point effectively means throwing them back into the cycle of human rights violations that this community has been suffering for decades," she said. The UN human rights office continued to receive reports of ongoing violations committed against Rohingya in northern Rakhine, Myanmar - including alleged killings, disappearances and arbitrary arrests, Bachelet said.

Rohingya face 'serious risk' if sent back to Myanmar: UN rights boss

Malaysia should ban child marriage immediately, a United Nations human rights expert said on Monday, stepping into a controversy that has raged since reports in July that a 44-year-old Malaysian man had married an 11-year-old Thai girl.

Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's government, in power since May, has promised to raise the legal age of marriage to 18, provoking a backlash from some conservative Islamic leaders who argue that early marriage provides an answer to social ills like premarital sex and pregnancies out of wedlock.

Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, the UN special rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children, urged Malaysian authorities to protect the rights of minors, particularly young girls.

Married underage girls were at higher risk of domestic violence, and are often denied the chance to pursue an education, she told reporters.

“By marrying them, you are denying these girls their basic human rights,” said de Boer-Buquicchio, who was on an eight-day visit to mostly-Muslim Malaysia.

In Malaysia, the legal minimum age for marriage under civil law for both genders is 18. However, girls can marry at 16 with the permission of their state’s chief minister, while Islamic law sets a 16-year minimum age for girls and allows even earlier marriages with the permission of the sharia court.

The UN official called on Malaysia to remove exemptions that allowed underage children to marry, saying "there can be no exceptions."

More than 5,000 applications for marriages involving minors were made at the sharia court between 2013 and 2017, government statistics show.

But many child marriages remained unreported, particularly among indigenous groups on Borneo, in Malaysia's east, de Boer-Buquicchio said.

"It is time to be firm," she said, adding that Malaysia's government should engage religious and customary leaders on the issue.

"The political will is there, but the question is how you can reach out to all the different entities.”

Last year, Malaysia passed a law on sexual offences against children but did not criminalize child marriage.

Malaysia should ban child marriage immediately, a United Nations human rights expert said on Monday, stepping into a controversy that has raged since reports in July that a 44-year-old Malaysian man had married an 11-year-old Thai girl.

Malaysia should ban child marriage immediately, a United Nations human rights expert said on Monday, stepping into a controversy that has raged since reports in July that a 44-year-old Malaysian man had married an 11-year-old Thai girl. Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's government, in power since May, has promised to raise the legal age of marriage to 18, provoking a backlash from some conservative Islamic leaders who argue that early marriage provides an answer to social ills like premarital sex and pregnancies out of wedlock. Maud de Boer-Buquicchio, the UN special rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children, urged Malaysian authorities to protect the rights of minors, particularly young girls. Married underage girls were at higher risk of domestic violence, and are often denied the chance to pursue an education, she told reporters. “By marrying them, you are denying these girls their basic human rights,” said de Boer-Buquicchio, who was on an eight-day visit to mostly-Muslim Malaysia. In Malaysia, the legal minimum age for marriage under civil law for both genders is 18. However, girls can marry at 16 with the permission of their state’s chief minister, while Islamic law sets a 16-year minimum age for girls and allows even earlier marriages with the permission of the sharia court. The UN official called on Malaysia to remove exemptions that allowed underage children to marry, saying "there can be no exceptions." More than 5,000 applications for marriages involving minors were made at the sharia court between 2013 and 2017, government statistics show. But many child marriages remained unreported, particularly among indigenous groups on Borneo, in Malaysia's east, de Boer-Buquicchio said. "It is time to be firm," she said, adding that Malaysia's government should engage religious and customary leaders on the issue. "The political will is there, but the question is how you can reach out to all the different entities.” Last year, Malaysia passed a law on sexual offences against children but did not criminalize child marriage.

UN rights expert urges Malaysia to end child marriage

The United Nations&#39;&nbsp;top human rights body agreed on Friday to widen its investigation into widespread violations in North Korea with a view to documenting alleged crimes against humanity for future prosecution.

North Korea said it &quot;categorically and totally&quot; rejected the resolution adopted by the UN&nbsp;Human Rights Council. The text was &quot;a product of the US&nbsp;hostile policy towards the DPRK (Democratic People&#39;s Republic of Korea) from A to Z,&quot; its envoy said after boycotting the debate.

The 47-member state forum adopted a resolution, brought by Japan and the European Union and backed by the United States, on the final day of its four-week session without a vote. It called for North Korea to cooperate and allow access for UN investigators, which the reclusive state has never done.

International pressure is building on the country ruled by Kim Jong Un over its nuclear tests - Fox news reported on Thursday North Korea was in the final stages of launching another one, possibly within days.

The United States has imposed fresh sanctions on foreign companies or individuals for violating export controls on North Korea, as well as Iran and Syria, the State Department said on Friday.

The UN&nbsp;human rights office in Seoul would be strengthened for two years with international criminal justice experts to establish a central repository for testimony and evidence &quot;with a view to developing possible strategies to be used in any future accountability process&quot;.

The Seoul office&#39;s current six-strong staff record testimony from interviews with dozens of North Korean defectors each week, a UN&nbsp;official told Reuters.&nbsp;

&quot;This not only brings North Koreans one step closer to justice for human rights crimes they have suffered, but should also make North Korean government officials think twice before inflicting more abuse,&quot; John Fisher from Human Rights Watch said in a statement.

A UN&nbsp;commission of inquiry, in a landmark 2014 report based on interviews and hearings with defectors, catalogued massive violations - including large prison camps, starvation and executions - that it said should be brought to the International Criminal Court.

&quot;The &#39;resolution&#39;&nbsp;is nothing more than a document for interference in internal affairs of sovereign states and represents the culmination of politicisation, selectivity and double standards of human rights,&quot; Mun Jong Chol, a counsellor at North Korea`s mission to the U.N. in Geneva, told reporters.

It was a fraudulent document full of &quot;lies, fabrications and plots&quot;, Mun said.

China said it &quot;dissociated&quot; itself from the council&#39;s decision and called for dialogue.

The situation on the divided Korean peninsula is &quot;complex and sensitive&quot; and all sides should avoid provocation that might lead to an escalation, Chinese diplomat Jiang Yingfeng said.&nbsp;

The world should &quot;focus on the bigger picture,&quot; he added.&nbsp;

(Reuters)

&nbsp;

The UN?human rights office in Seoul would be strengthened for two years with international criminal justice experts to establish a central repository for testimony and evidence

The United Nations' top human rights body agreed on Friday to widen its investigation into widespread violations in North Korea with a view to documenting alleged crimes against humanity for future prosecution. North Korea said it "categorically and totally" rejected the resolution adopted by the UN Human Rights Council. The text was "a product of the US hostile policy towards the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) from A to Z," its envoy said after boycotting the debate. The 47-member state forum adopted a resolution, brought by Japan and the European Union and backed by the United States, on the final day of its four-week session without a vote. It called for North Korea to cooperate and allow access for UN investigators, which the reclusive state has never done. International pressure is building on the country ruled by Kim Jong Un over its nuclear tests - Fox news reported on Thursday North Korea was in the final stages of launching another one, possibly within days. The United States has imposed fresh sanctions on foreign companies or individuals for violating export controls on North Korea, as well as Iran and Syria, the State Department said on Friday. The UN human rights office in Seoul would be strengthened for two years with international criminal justice experts to establish a central repository for testimony and evidence "with a view to developing possible strategies to be used in any future accountability process". The Seoul office's current six-strong staff record testimony from interviews with dozens of North Korean defectors each week, a UN official told Reuters. "This not only brings North Koreans one step closer to justice for human rights crimes they have suffered, but should also make North Korean government officials think twice before inflicting more abuse," John Fisher from Human Rights Watch said in a statement. A UN commission of inquiry, in a landmark 2014 report based on interviews and hearings with defectors, catalogued massive violations - including large prison camps, starvation and executions - that it said should be brought to the International Criminal Court. "The 'resolution' is nothing more than a document for interference in internal affairs of sovereign states and represents the culmination of politicisation, selectivity and double standards of human rights," Mun Jong Chol, a counsellor at North Korea`s mission to the U.N. in Geneva, told reporters. It was a fraudulent document full of "lies, fabrications and plots", Mun said. China said it "dissociated" itself from the council's decision and called for dialogue. The situation on the divided Korean peninsula is "complex and sensitive" and all sides should avoid provocation that might lead to an escalation, Chinese diplomat Jiang Yingfeng said. The world should "focus on the bigger picture," he added. (Reuters)

North Korea crimes to be documented for prosecution someday: UN