Four freedom of speech watchdogs of international organisations said in a statement released Monday that UN bodies should not use the concept of "defamation of religions," arguing that beliefs have no reputation of their own, dpa reported.
"Restrictions on freedom of expression should be limited in scope to the protection of overriding individual rights and social interests," the statement said, "and should never be used to protect particular institutions ... including religious ones."
The joint declaration was issued by the rapporteurs for freedom of speech of the UN, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the Organization of American States (OAS) and the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR).
The four watchdogs also focused on anti-terrorism legislation, criticizing that some countries use such laws to suppress free speech.
The concept of "defamation of religion" has been used by Egypt in the UN Human Rights Council in June to curb debate on women's rights under Islamic law, according to a report by Article 19, a London-based free-speech advocacy group that was involved in drafting the watchdog's statement.
The concept could also be abused to justify sweeping anti-blasphemy laws, Article 19 said.
Regarding terrorism laws, vague notions such as "promoting" extremism or terrorism should not be criminalized unless they constitute incitement, the joint statement said.
"This year's joint declaration may be of important assistance to the authorities of Belarus and Russia which have used their anti-extremism legislation to punish independent journalists and dissenters," said OSCE rapporteur Miklos Haraszti.