ESCALATING USE OF RELIGIOUS RHETORIC COULD EXACERBATE SYRIAN CONFLICT, WARNS UN ADVISER

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From: UNNews <UNNews@un.org>
Date: 8 Jul 2013 11:00:00 -0400
Subject: ESCALATING USE OF RELIGIOUS RHETORIC COULD EXACERBATE SYRIAN
CONFLICT, WARNS UN ADVISER
To: news11@ny-mail-p-lb-028.ptc.un.org

ESCALATING USE OF RELIGIOUS RHETORIC COULD EXACERBATE SYRIAN CONFLICT,
WARNS UN ADVISERNew York, Jul 8 2013 11:00AMThe increasing use of
rhetoric by political and religious leaders in the context of the
Syrian crisis could exacerbate the violence in the Middle Eastern
country and fuel tensions between different groups in the region, the
United Nations Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide warned
today.

"History has shown that exploiting religious tensions in the context
of a political and armed struggle may incite violence and could lead
to large-scale atrocities," said Adama Dieng, expressing concern over
recent statements by some religious leaders who have portrayed the
Syrian conflict as a religious one.

"Such rhetoric, when it constitutes incitement to violence on
religious grounds, could exacerbate the already disastrous violence in
Syria, lead to further war crimes and crimes against humanity and fuel
tensions between different groups both in Syria and elsewhere in the
region."

More than 93,000 people have been killed and over 1.7 million people
have fled Syria to neighbouring countries since fighting began in
March 2011 between the Syrian Government and opposition groups seeking
to oust President Bashar Al-Assad.

Mr. Dieng stressed that all leaders have the responsibility of
speaking out against any hate speech that encourages intolerance and
discriminatory stereotyping, or that constitutes incitement to
violence.

"I urge all leaders in the wider region to act responsibly and refrain
from using or condoning any language that may escalate sectarian
tensions. The consequences of rhetoric that inflames these tensions
will be felt by populations across the region," he said.

Under international law, attacks against civilians cannot be justified
under any circumstances and advocacy of hatred that constitutes
incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence is also
prohibited, Mr. Dieng noted.

"All States must refrain from contributing to such crimes, including
by tolerating hate speech and incitement to violence against
particular populations," he said. "If we do not act now, there is a
serious risk that sectarian violence could spread across the region."

Mr. Dieng recalled the 2005 World Summit outcome document, in which
all Heads of State and Government committed to protect populations
from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against
humanity, including their incitement. The international community also
committed to take collective action to protect their populations from
genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.

The Office of the Secretary-General's Special Adviser on the
Prevention of Genocide was set up in 2004 in recognition of the
international community's collective failure to prevent or stop past
genocides. It is tasked by the Security Council with collecting and
assessing information on situations that might lead to genocide.Jul 8
2013 11:00AM
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