Towards that end, she told FMT, the nation must ensure that its education system was consonant with international standards and one that would promote equality. “That’s very vital in countering fundamentalist ideas,” she said.
“Anywhere in the world, people are susceptible to ideology that is pushed onto them, whether it is through the conventional media, social media, or – very importantly – through education.”
Bennoune recently presented a report of preliminary findings from her 11-day visit in Malaysia to assess efforts to promote cultural rights, particularly the rights of people to participate in cultural life without discrimination.
She is mandated by the UN Human Rights Council to monitor, review and advise on cultural rights in all countries and was in Malaysia at the invitation of the Putrajaya administration.
One of the points she made in the report was the importance of allowing different local interpretations of Islam to flourish.
“It is important to allow the flourishing of the diversities of Malaysian Islam, which are Southeast Asian, rather than allowing what some people view as an imported version of Islam to be imposed on people,” she told FMT.
“It’s also important to be very clear that Muslims can disagree and not all Muslims have the same view.”
She said even members of her own family had different views of Islam. “That is perfectly appropriate,” she added.
Bennoune also called for the abolition of censorship boards.
She expressed worry over the subjective criteria used to ban books, citing in particular the banning of Faisal Tehrani’s books.
“I understand he has six books which have been banned,” she said. “As a result, book sellers are now afraid to sell his other books. And so there’s this chilling effect.
“I think his books are the kind of discourse that is critical in Malaysia today with the challenges faced in the country and the rest of the region.”
In her report, Bennoune said “harmony” should not imply silence over issues deemed “sensitive”. Dialogue was most needed when things were sensitive, she added.
“The only way to resolve sensitive issues is through rational discourse, through art and communication,” she told FMT. “So I very much hope that the ban on Mr Tehrani’s books is lifted.”
She also spoke about the banning of other books, including a book written by G25 members.
“I think this is a very negative development for cultural rights in Malaysia,” she said.
“I’ve had some very good and open dialogues this year and I am very hopeful that those I’ve spoken to will, in good faith, consider the recommendations I’ve made.”