WASHINGTON – Seeking to bolster relations with Muslim countries angry about Western characterizations of Islam, the Obama administration has gathered representatives from more than two dozen governments this week in an effort to address religious intolerance around the world.
To critics, the three-day conference in Washington smacks of appeasement toward hardline Islamist governments with often dismal anti-discrimination records of their own. U.S. officials say they’re simply promoting education and understanding, while also rejecting any demands from Arab states and other countries that want restrictions on free speech.
“We know that some people distort various religious doctrines to justify intolerance, foment violence or create strife that serves their narrow political purposes,” said Suzan Johnson Cook, U.S. ambassador at large for international religious freedom. She said offensive speech ought to be denounced, but that “religion must never be used as an excuse to stifle freedom of expression.”
The dialogue comes after years of complaints from Muslim governments about perceived offenses against their faith. As examples they cite irreverent European cartoons of the prophet Muhammad and a small Florida church group’s burning of the Quran, and have advocated international rules to protect religious symbols and beliefs from mockery.
But the United States and European countries have sought
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