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January 24, 2008

U.N. special religion rapporteur to visit Israel, Palestinian territory

by Ecumenical News International

GENEVA — The special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief of the United Nations Human Rights Council, Asma Jahangir, is visiting Israel and the Palestinian territory it occupies from Jan. 20-27, says the UN Organization in Geneva.

The visit follows invitations by the Israeli government and by the government of the Palestinian Authority, UNOG said in a statement on Jan. 17.

During her visit, the Special Rapporteur will hold talks with government officials responsible for matters of religion or belief, and will meet with representatives of religious groups, non-governmental organizations and individuals. A report on the visit, including conclusions and recommendations, will be submitted to the Human Rights Council.

Israel and the Palestinian territories lie in an area often referred to as the Holy Land by Christians, and have sites and places holy to Christianity, Islam and Judaism.

Jahangir, a human rights lawyer based in Pakistan, was appointed Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief in July 2004 by the former United Nations Commission on Human Rights. On Dec. 14, 2007, the Human Rights Council, which replaced the former commission, decided to extend the mandate of the Special Rapporteur for three more years.

Jahangir’s mandate includes the promotion of measures at the national, regional and international levels to ensure the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of religion or belief. She is charged also with identifying existing and emerging obstacles to the right to freedom of religion or belief and to present recommendations on ways to overcome them.