Practical, not ideological, approach needed on human rights

(Reposted from TodayOnline, 1 May 2015)

Anti-Semitism is on the rise in Europe partly because countries in the region are clinging to value systems based on an extreme ideological concept of the universality of rights, said Mr Bilahari Kausikan, Ambassador at Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who hopes South-east Asia and Singapore will learn from Europe’s mistakes and not fall into the same trap. Mr Kausikan made these remarks as guest of honour yesterday at a seminar on state practice on the freedom of thought, conscience and religion in the region.

Read the rest of the article on the remarks given during the presentation of HRRC’s “Keeping the Faith: A Study of Freedom of Thought, Conscience, and Religion in ASEAN” in Singapore here.