Bush at UN: Freedom of religion is a basic human right
US President George W Bush spoke yesterday at the Saudi-sponsored UN gabfest on religion and peace. It was probably his last opportunity to address the United Nations, and he made the most of it. He risked the ire of America’s putative ally, Saudi Arabia, by emphasising the right to change one’s religion.
While he praised his close ally, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, Mr Bush effectively challenged the strict Islamic kingdom’s outlawing of apostasy, or change of religion.
Addressing the UN General Assembly, he said that the UN Declaration of Human Rights, adopted 60 years ago, enshrines “the right to choose or change religions and the right to worship in private or public”.
Mr Bush added: “Freedom includes the right of all people to worship as they see fit.”
Saudi Arabia is far from the only country in which apostasy is illegal. Fifteen Muslim-majority countries outlaw converting from Islam to some other religion.
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