Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: Ravina Shamdasani
Location: Geneva
Date: 3 June 2015

We are appalled at the two-year prison sentence handed down to U Htin Lin Oo on charges of insulting religion. U Htin Lin Oo courageously spoke out against the use of Buddhism as a tool for extremism. His treatment and conviction are in stark contrast to the treatment of those in Myanmar who are clearly inciting violence against minority communities, particularly the Rohingya.

Rather than prosecuting individuals, who brazenly call for the Rohingya to be killed, for hate speech and incitement to violence, the authorities have jailed a peaceful advocate who dared to question the misuse and manipulation of religion for extremist ends. High Commissioner Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein has previously raised U Htin Lin Oo’s case, warning Myanmar against creating a new generation of political prisoners by jailing people who seek to enjoy the democratic freedoms they were promised in the reforms the country has undergone in the past two years.

We urge the authorities to release U Htin Lin Oo unconditionally and to take all necessary measures to ensure that those who conduct peaceful advocacy, legitimately exercising their rights to freedom of expression and opinion, do not face reprisals.

We also call on the Government of Myanmar to send a clear message against hate speech and incitement to violence. While the increased space for freedom of expression in Myanmar has been welcome, international standards require that any advocacy of national, racial or religious hatred that constitutes incitement to discrimination, hostility or violence should be prohibited by law.

ENDS

For more information, please contact Ravina Shamdasani (+41 22 917 9169 / +41 79 201 0115/ rshamdasani@ohchr.org)