[DRAFT] Rights of Religious Travellers

[Kowani]

No. To qualify for government benefits in Kowani, one has to swear an oath rejecting various things, one of which is foreign influence. Missionaries are foreign, due to the irreligious population of the State. As such, to allow missionaries to enter would remove benefits from many of the poor.

[Artsotska]

(Image)

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Rights of Religious Travellers
Category: Civil Rights | Strength: Mild | Proposed by: United Massachusetts

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Recalling its longstanding commitment to the preservation of free expression and free worship,

Accepting then, a necessary corollary to those two fundamental rights -- that religious expression and missionary work ought to be legally protected as well,

Believing that when peaceful and non-coercive, missionary work does not pose a harm significant enough to justify its criminalisation,

Also aware that many religious travellers seek to engage in pilgrimage or visit holy sites,

Expressing its firm opinion that such travel, a fundamental aspect of religious freedom, also ought to be legalised,

The General Assembly, with the advice and consent of the delegates and member nations thereof, and by the authority of the same, in this present session assembled, and by the authority of the same:

1. Defines, for the purposes of this resolution, the following terms:
   1. "missionary work" as the act of travelling to another country for the purposes of teaching about religious belief, engaging in faith-based charity work, or spreading a non-violent and otherwise permitted religious belief, including non-belief,
   2. "missionary" as an individual engaged in missionary work,
2. Prohibits any member-nation from criminalizing the act of non-coercive missionary work, provided that:
   1. the work is done non-violently and in accord with all other relevant national law,
   2. the work does not pose a risk of sparking significant lawlessness, civil unrest, or other significant threats to health or safety,
3. Declares that no member-nation shall:
   1. inhibit the rights of missionaries to enter a country, on sole account of their desire to engage in non-coercive missionary work,
   2. deny an individual the right to access and visit a public holy site of their faith tradition, except where a compelling practical purpose exists to do so in the name of public health, security, or good order, and where doing so is the least restrictive means of advancing said purpose, subject to reasonable operational and administrative restrictions,
   3. hamper the right of a traveller to possess, read, travel with, or distribute religious literature.

I see nothing wrong with this. I support this proposal. Good work!

[Kenmoria]

“3c seems potentially dangerous given that you don’t put any qualifications or exceptions. Of course, spreading a holy book that contains only some discriminatory verses to a school for its religious studies lesson is fine, but spreading a collection of homophobic verses to a gay pride parade is clearly designed to incite hatred, and member nations should have the choice of whether or not to allow that.”

“I actually broadly support this. Your ‘also aware’ clause has two ‘also’s in quite close succession, which is mildly displeasing, but overall I support this measure.”

I actually fully support this. Creative topic, nice work.

What's with all this "actually" stuff? Do y'all worry about religious resolutions from my delegation or something?

(OOC: Yes, of course. )

[Araraukar]

IC: "The kind of missionary work where you approach people to talk to them about your nonsense beliefs, whether or not they're as discriminatory as most religious nonsense is, is forbidden in Araraukar as an attempt to cause civil unrest. If that sounds strict to you, it is still better than having to deal with "they tried to convert me" as defence in a murder trial, believe me. We do not prosecute people for being religious or having beliefs that common sense would classify as mental instability, but we can and will stop them from putting themselves in danger of violent reactions. Our nation learned its lessons on religions after a ninety-year long genocidal religious war that left the whole subcontinent in ruins and killed more than three hundred million people in total."

OOC: ^That is on top of the whole anti-immigration policies in general. Oh and the 300M dead includes civilian casualties, which were heavy, since all three major sides in the war considered the best way to stop the competing ideologies being just killing the heretics, rather than wasting resources on trying to change their minds on religion. The modern nation of Araraukar arose from the ruins of that war, with strict "don't ask, don't tell" policies on religion.

[United Massachusetts]

Bump. I'll claw through this thread today.

[Arachkya]

If this passes we will leave the WA, our government can not allow this evangelical nonsense into our great nation to poison our people with that hippie nonsense.

[United Massachusetts]

If this passes we will leave the WA, our government can not allow this evangelical nonsense into our great nation to poison our people with that hippie nonsense.

Two points: (a) it's Catholic nonsense, not evangelical nonsense, and (b) evangelical nonsense is highly different from hippie nonsense.

QED, AMDG.

[Marxist Germany]

If this passes we will leave the WA, our government can not allow this evangelical nonsense into our great nation to poison our people with that hippie nonsense.

"You're welcome to leave ambassador, you will not be missed."

[Arachkya]

If this passes we will leave the WA, our government can not allow this evangelical nonsense into our great nation to poison our people with that hippie nonsense.

"You're welcome to leave ambassador, you will not be missed."

"When your streets are packed with those yelling idiots, screaming you need to be "saved'' you will soon change your mind sir''

[Marxist Germany]

"You're welcome to leave ambassador, you will not be missed."

"When your streets are packed with those yelling idiots, screaming you need to be "saved'' you will soon change your mind sir''

"I myself am one of those idiots, and Germany is mostly Christian and religious."

[Separatist Peoples]

"When your streets are packed with those yelling idiots, screaming you need to be "saved'' you will soon change your mind sir''

"I myself am one of those idiots, and Germany is mostly Christian and religious."

"Well, so long as you're aware of it."

[Arachkya]

"When your streets are packed with those yelling idiots, screaming you need to be "saved'' you will soon change your mind sir''

"I myself am one of those idiots, and Germany is mostly Christian and religious."

"Really?, interesting combination I must say, but regardless, my nation will ignore this resolution if it passes, just like the industrial one"

OOC: I feel like Moammar al-Qadhafi. LOL

[Marxist Germany]

"I myself am one of those idiots, and Germany is mostly Christian and religious."

"Really?, interesting combination I must say, but regardless, my nation will ignore this resolution if it passes, just like the industrial one"

OOC: I feel like Moammar al-Qadhafi. LOL

"Noncompliance leads to heavy sanctions, ambassador."

"I myself am one of those idiots, and Germany is mostly Christian and religious."

"Well, so long as you're aware of it."

"As you say, Bell."

[Arachkya]

"Really?, interesting combination I must say, but regardless, my nation will ignore this resolution if it passes, just like the industrial one"

OOC: I feel like Moammar al-Qadhafi. LOL

"Noncompliance leads to heavy sanctions, ambassador."

"All I hear is empty threats mr ambassador, hollow words and empty threats"

[Bananaistan]

"Bananaistan remains opposed on the principle of being opposed to a) cultural imperialism (the natives do not need to hear about the "good news"), and b) allowing non-national bigots spew bile and harass minorities.

"Although in practice it is unlikely that the safety of any such "religious traveller" (IE the homophobic, transphobic and misgynist ones) could be guaranteed and admittance would be refused on that basis."

[Separatist Peoples]

"Bananaistan remains opposed on the principle of being opposed to a) cultural imperialism (the natives do not need to hear about the "good news"), and b) allowing non-national bigots spew bile and harass minorities.

"Although in practice it is unlikely that the safety of any such "religious traveller" (IE the homophobic, transphobic and misgynist ones) could be guaranteed and admittance would be refused on that basis."

"Likewise. The C.D.S.P. doesn't see any reason we should permit missionaries to enter when their very goal is to spread a message at odds with our societal values of egalitarianism, secularism, and inclusivity.

Also, it was hard enough clearing the Catholic diocese out of our nation. We're not altogether interested in giving them another foothold."

[Marxist Germany]

"Bananaistan remains opposed on the principle of being opposed to a) cultural imperialism (the natives do not need to hear about the "good news"), and b) allowing non-national bigots spew bile and harass minorities.

"Although in practice it is unlikely that the safety of any such "religious traveller" (IE the homophobic, transphobic and misgynist ones) could be guaranteed and admittance would be refused on that basis."

"Likewise. The C.D.S.P. doesn't see any reason we should permit missionaries to enter when their very goal is to spread a message at odds with our societal values of egalitarianism, secularism, and inclusivity.

Also, it was hard enough clearing the Catholic diocese out of our nation. We're not altogether interested in giving them another foothold."

"Ambassador, I imagine state-enforced atheism is noncompliance with Freedom of Religion."

[Kenmoria]

"Bananaistan remains opposed on the principle of being opposed to a) cultural imperialism (the natives do not need to hear about the "good news"), and b) allowing non-national bigots spew bile and harass minorities.

"Although in practice it is unlikely that the safety of any such "religious traveller" (IE the homophobic, transphobic and misgynist ones) could be guaranteed and admittance would be refused on that basis."

“Perhaps ambassador Pierce could include an exception for religions that preach hatred or discrimination. I would also like to see an exception granted for when uncontacted peoples have persistently refused contact with the outside world, since this means that they would not wish to be proselytised.”

[Separatist Peoples]

"Likewise. The C.D.S.P. doesn't see any reason we should permit missionaries to enter when their very goal is to spread a message at odds with our societal values of egalitarianism, secularism, and inclusivity.

Also, it was hard enough clearing the Catholic diocese out of our nation. We're not altogether interested in giving them another foothold."

"Ambassador, I imagine state-enforced atheism is noncompliance with Freedom of Religion."

"The C.D.S.P. does not mandate atheism, ambassador. Indeed, the freedom to practice religion is an individual right guaranteed by C.D.S.P. law."

[Bananaistan]

"Bananaistan remains opposed on the principle of being opposed to a) cultural imperialism (the natives do not need to hear about the "good news"), and b) allowing non-national bigots spew bile and harass minorities.

"Although in practice it is unlikely that the safety of any such "religious traveller" (IE the homophobic, transphobic and misgynist ones) could be guaranteed and admittance would be refused on that basis."

“Perhaps ambassador Pierce could include an exception for religions that preach hatred or discrimination. I would also like to see an exception granted for when uncontacted peoples have persistently refused contact with the outside world, since this means that they would not wish to be proselytised.”

"Contacted peoples who do not wish to be proselytised should also be exempted."

[Maowi]

“Perhaps ambassador Pierce could include an exception for religions that preach hatred or discrimination.

"That would exclude the vast majority of religions - about which, frankly, I would not complain."

[Ard al Islam]

Nay.

[Sierra Lyricalia]

"As to the proposal: we're undecided at this point. Would a belief system that includes, say, blood libel be considered 'non-violent' if its priests refrain from actually spelling out '...and therefore we shouldn't tolerate them!' ? This assembly's past law on freedom of religion isn't particularly helpful here - it's one thing to permit existing belief systems to continue, but something else entirely to mandate that we allow foreigners to come in and spread racist, sexist, or other bigoted belief systems."

"I don't see in the debate transcript any answer to this question, besides the frankly hand-wavy reply to the Bananamen about 'the vast majority' of religious belief being peaceful and tolerant. If that's the best you've got, Ambassador, we'll have to oppose this resolution."

[Litauengrad]

Comrade Ambassadors,

We will support any resolution that upholds the ability of pilgrims to travel to their holy sites. This is both just and a necessary component of supporting freedom of religion, an obligation we accept not just due to international treaties but through our commitment to human rights.

However, we have no interest in receiving foreign missionaries, considering that evangelization is often a tactic of imperialist powers. We uphold that free discussion, debate, and attempts to convert are a part of freedom of religion, regardless of our personal feelings on the matter. However, we reserve the right to mere proselytization for our own citizens.

[United Massachusetts]

"As to the proposal: we're undecided at this point. Would a belief system that includes, say, blood libel be considered 'non-violent' if its priests refrain from actually spelling out '...and therefore we shouldn't tolerate them!' ? This assembly's past law on freedom of religion isn't particularly helpful here - it's one thing to permit existing belief systems to continue, but something else entirely to mandate that we allow foreigners to come in and spread racist, sexist, or other bigoted belief systems."

"I don't see in the debate transcript any answer to this question, besides the frankly hand-wavy reply to the Bananamen about 'the vast majority' of religious belief being peaceful and tolerant. If that's the best you've got, Ambassador, we'll have to oppose this resolution."

"Apologies. We are working on revamping this at the moment."

"Bananaistan remains opposed on the principle of being opposed to a) cultural imperialism (the natives do not need to hear about the "good news"), and b) allowing non-national bigots spew bile and harass minorities.

"Although in practice it is unlikely that the safety of any such "religious traveller" (IE the homophobic, transphobic and misgynist ones) could be guaranteed and admittance would be refused on that basis."

“Perhaps ambassador Pierce could include an exception for religions that preach hatred or discrimination. I would also like to see an exception granted for when uncontacted peoples have persistently refused contact with the outside world, since this means that they would not wish to be proselytised.”

I shall add in these ideas at nearest convenience.

Further, and unrelated to SL's post, I shall ignore any comments insinuating that Christianity, or any other religion, is fundamentally wrong/imperialist/bigoted. Hatred deserves no reply.