[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 13381]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           NO FREEDOM OF SPEECH AT U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL

  (Mr. POE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, the U.N. Human Rights Council was formed to 
have open, lively debate on the basic human rights of all peoples. 
However, some Muslim nations have put a strong arm on the council and 
prevented free discussions of practices that are advocated in the name 
of religion by a few Muslims. Those practices include female genital 
mutilation and so-called ``honor killings,'' or murder, of women.
  One would think that the mutilation and killing of women would be a 
front-burner topic with the Human Rights Council. But some Muslims have 
said this subject is taboo and the discussion of this religious 
practice and the religious practices of other faiths is off-limits.
  So much for the basic human right of free speech.
  Those that advocate the mutilation and honor killings of women in the 
name of religion should be proud of this doctrine of faith and be able 
to justify it before the U.N. Human Rights Council. But I guess not.
  By the way, Mr. Speaker, it seems to me that in the history of 
humanity, more murders, tortures, and wars have been justified and done 
in the name of the world's numerous religions than any other reason or 
cause.
  Reason enough in 2008 to discuss this practice of abusing women.
  And that's just the way it is.

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