Bahrain attends UN session on religious freedom

A Bahraini delegation led by Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva Dr. Yusuf Abdul- Karim Bucheeri today attended a plenary discussion session with the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief. Addressing the session, Dr. Bucheeri pointed out the centuries-old struggle for the freedom of religion or belief. He deplored the religiously-motivated conflicts which are still plaguing the world although the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has been promoting the freedom of religion or belief since its inception in 1948. He cited the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights ((ICCPR), a multilateral treaty adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on December 16, 1966, stipulating the freedom of religion and belief. Dr. Bucheeri voiced deep Arab concerns over the tragic plight of Muslim minorities in several countries in the world regarding their right to exercise freedom of religion and belief. He cited the plight of Muslim women which suffer harassment and humiliation and legal ordeals because of their traditional Islamic-inspired attire, which amounts to a serious affront to all Arabs and Muslims. Dr. Bucheeri stressed the need to respect Muslim women’s right to exercise their religious rituals and combat anti-Arab and Muslim discriminatory and heinous practices.