UN: Beware of religious unrest

2010-03-11 22:20

Geneva - The UN independent expert on freedom of religion urged governments around the world on Thursday to be on the look-out for "early warning signs" of inter-religious unrest.

"The current and recurring cases of inter-communal violence in Nigeria... show once again the importance of taking heed of early warning signs and addressing the root causes of religious tensions," special rapporteur Asma Jahangir told the UN Human Rights Council.

Political manipulation was the principal cause of the latest unrest in Nigeria, she told journalists later, adding that "religions can be very easily manipulated".

A weekend slaughter of Christian villagers in Nigeria's Jos region left 109 people dead. In January, over 300 people - mostly Muslims - died in clashes in and around Jos.

Asked about Switzerland's move to ban the construction of new minarets and restrictions imposed by some countries on religious dress, Jahangir said those steps qualified as early warning signs of intolerance.

"It is indeed regrettable that societies with high levels of income and education have openly expressed their aversion to see religious symbols in public," she said.

She added, however, that it was "unacceptable that women are forced to wear religious dress in public, contrary to their individual choice".

- SAPA