A/HRC/2/3 page 2 CONTENTS Paragraphs Introduction .............................................................................................. I. II. III. Page 1-2 3 DEFAMATION OF RELIGIONS AND INCITEMENT TO RACIAL AND RELIGIOUS HATRED AS MANIFESTATIONS OF CONTEMPORARY FORMS OF RACISM, RACIAL DISCRIMINATION, XENOPHOBIA AND RELATED INTOLERANCE ............... 3 - 21 3 1. The current political and ideological context .................... 5-8 4 2. Current trends of racial and religious intolerance .............. 9 - 14 5 3. Defamation of religions: specificities and commonalities .................................................................... 15 - 21 6 DEFAMATION OF RELIGION AND THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF RELIGION OR BELIEF ................................. 22 - 50 7 1. The scope of the right to freedom of religion or belief ...... 31 - 39 9 2. Religion and freedom of opinion and expression .............. 40 - 43 10 3. Religious intolerance and incitement to religious hatred .. 44 - 50 11 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS .................... 51 - 65 12