Geneva, Feb. 27 -- Highlighting the misuse of religious legislation, Simin Fahandej, the Representative of the Baha'i International Community's United Nations Office in Geneva, stated that blasphemy laws are frequently employed as tools for political control rather than religious protection.

Speaking at a side event during the 61st United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) session, titled "Blasphemy Laws and the Persecution of Minorities in Asia: Human Rights Implications and Paths Forward", Fahandej, who has served in her role since 2011, underscored the gravity of the current landscape.

"This is actually quite an urgent discussion given everything that's been going on in the past weeks," she noted.

She observed that while certain e...