On 30 October 2023, the World Evangelical Alliance submitted a report to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief in response to the Special Rapporteur’s call for input on “Advocacy of Hatred Based on Religion or Belief – Transformative Responses”. In our report, we address the paradox of the rise of hatred targeting religious minorities and the adverse impact that anti-hate legislation can have on legitimate religious expression.
Among the recommendations, the report urges the Special Rapporteur to continue to call out governments that incite hatred against religious minorities and to repeal blasphemy laws in their countries, to encourage global religious bodies to speak against promotion of hatred by those in their religious tradition, and to encourage Western countries to include exemptions for religious expression in their hate speech prohibitions.