During the release of the 2009 international religious freedom report Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that “an individual’s ability to practice his or her religion has no bearing on others’ freedom of speech.”

She was referring to anti-defamation policies supported by some at the United Nations which would suppress offensive speech about religion.

Citing the U.S. experience, Clinton said “the best antidote to intolerance is not the defamation of religion’s approach of banning and punishing offensive speech, but rather, a combination of robust legal protections against discrimination and hate crimes, proactive government outreach to minority religious groups, and the vigorous defense of both freedom of religion and expression.”

See Clinton’s full remarks here and more information on the report here at America.gov.

Check out Freedom of Faith for a look into how fundamental principles like religious freedom are best upheld in a nation where the population has multiplied by 100 since the principle of religious freedom was outlined in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

How does your country protect the right to freely practice religion?

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today will deliver remarks about the release of the State Department’s 2009 Annual Report on International Religious Freedom. The report documents, in 198 countries, abuses of religious freedom and progress toward what Clinton calls “the price of admission into the 21st century”: Learning to respect the faith of one’s neighbors.

Check back later for more details about what’s found in the 2009 report. You can see past reports here.