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Critics, including the wife of imprisoned pro-democracy blogger Raif Badawi – sentenced to 1,000 lashes for blogging about free speech – labelled the appointment “scandalous”, saying it meant “oil trumps human rights”.
Mr Badawi’s wife, Ensaf Haidar, who is leading an international campaign to free her husband, said on Facebook that handing the role to Faisal bin Hassan Trad, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador at the UN in Geneva, was effectively “a green light to start flogging [him] again”.
UN Watch, an independent campaigning NGO, revealed Mr Trad, Saudi Arabia’s ambassador at the UN in Geneva, was elected as chair of a panel of independent experts on the UN Human Rights Council.
Ensaf Haidar, wife of jailed Saudi blogger Raif Badawi (JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP/Getty Images)As head of a five-strong group of diplomats, the influential role would give Mr Trad the power to select applicants from around the world for scores of expert roles in countries where the UN has a mandate on human rights.
Such experts are often described as the "crown jewels" of the HRC, according to UN Watch, which has obtained official UN documents, dated 17 September, confirming the appointment.
UN Watch executive director Hillel Neuer said the appointment, made in June but unreported until now, may have been a consolation prize for the Saudis after they withdrew their bid to head the 47-nation council following international condemnation of the kingdom’s human rights record.
Raif Badawi has been sentenced to 1,000 lashes for ‘insulting Islam’ on his liberal website
The Saudis’ bid emerged shortly after it posted a job advertisement for eight new executioners, to cope with what Amnesty International branded a “macabre spike” in the use of capital punishment, including beheadings, this year.
The HRC, the UN body responsible for promoting human rights around the world, has long been the subject of criticism for granting membership to countries with dubious human rights records. As well as Saudi Arabia, current members include China, Qatar, Russia and Venezuela.
Mr Neuer described the appointment as “scandalous”.
“Saudi Arabia has arguably the worst record in the world when it comes to religious freedom and women’s rights, and continues to imprison the innocent blogger Raif Badawi," he said.
READ MORE: RAIF BADAWI'S WIFE TAKES FIGHT FOR SAUDI BLOGGER'S RELEASE TO WASHINGTON DC
SAUDI ARABIA EXECUTES 'A PERSON EVERY TWO DAYS' AS RATE OF BEHEADINGS SOARS UNDER KING SALMAN
SAUDI ARABIA 'SEEKING TO HEAD UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL'
“It’s a sad comment on our world that oil continues to trump basic human rights principles.
“It’s bad enough that Saudi Arabia is a member of the council, but for the UN to go and name the regime as chair of a key panel only pours salt in the wounds for dissidents languishing in Saudi prisons.”
The UN, and the Saudi Arabian mission to the UN's Office in Geneva (UNOG), had not responded to The Independent's requests for a comment at the time of writing.
5 opmerkingen:
Inderdaad krankzinnig! De Verenigde Naties als messenslijpers! In Mei bleken er in Saoudi Arabie voor 2015 al 89 mensen publiekelijk onthoofd en met advertenties werden beulen gewerfd. Wanted: Recruits for the world's most bloodthirsty job... Saudis advertise for EIGHT new executioners - and beginners are welcome.
En beenhakker, coach van het Saoedische nationale voetbalelftal mocht zaterdag verhalen over zijn avontuur in NOS studio sport zonder dat hem werkelijk het vuur aan de schenen werd gelegd. 'Het zijn hele aardige mensen en je merkt eigenlijk niets'. Deze misdadige mentaliteit gespeend van enig menselijk, empathisch en moreel vermogen die schouderophalend redeneert dat er dan nog wel honderd dingen zijn waar men zich druk over kan maken want de hele Europese competitie is opgekocht door sheiks uit oliestaten. Het verschoningsargument daar had men wel begrip voor.
Is er iets door ons eten gedaan dat we zo zijn geworden?
As Israel lurches to the right, peace prospects shrivel Hoog tijd dus voor 'n stedenband Amsterdam-Tel Aviv.
'There is much speculation about whether opposition leader Isaac Herzog, head of the Zionist Union party, can be enticed into Mr Netanyahu‘s government and encourage it towards peace. But a deeper truth about the Israeli left was exposed this month by the introduction of a draconian terrorism bill.
The measure, called “wildly authoritarian” by one Israeli analyst, lets the government define any group it dislikes, including civil ones, as a terrorist organisation. Offering non-material support, such as a “like” on Facebook, could land you three years in jail. “Abetting terror”, even unwittingly – say, by selling a car to someone who later carries out an attack – can earn you 30 years. '
Kranzinnigheid is blijkbaar besmettelijker dan men denkt, fijne start-up.
nee, dit is de mentaliteit van de mainstream collaborerende hollander. tijdens de oorlog leidde dit tot collaboratie met het naziregime waardoor uit nederland procentueel twee maal zoveel joodse burgers is gedeporteerd dan uit belgie en drie keer meer als uit frankrijk.
"Deze misdadige mentaliteit gespeend van enig menselijk, empathisch en moreel vermogen die schouderophalend redeneert dat er dan nog wel honderd dingen zijn waar men zich druk over kan maken"------->>>>> Jack van Gelder
"dit is de mentaliteit van de mainstream collaborerende hollander. tijdens de oorlog leidde dit tot collaboratie met het naziregime waardoor uit nederland procentueel twee maal zoveel joodse burgers is gedeporteerd dan uit belgie en drie keer meer als uit frankrijk." -------->>>>>Jack van Gelder
Collaboreren in plaats van boycotten. De VN!
Saudi teen PRISONER sentenced to death by Crucifixion for taking part in a anti-Government protest as a child has had his final appeal dismissed. Artikel van 3 luttele dagen geleden!!! Met Yemen doen de Saoedi's momenteel hetzelfde als wat de apartheidsstaat Israël met Gaza deed vorig jaar, met dit verschil dat het een veel groter gebied betreft: burgers vermoorden en het land ruïneren. Mensenrechten op weerzinwekkende puinhopen. De hele VN top op staande voet ontslaan zonder bezoldiging en vervangen zou je denken! Hoe is het in vredesnaam mogelijk dat deze schurkenstaat zo'n toppositie bij 'n VN mensenrechten organisatie toebedeeld krijgt. De onverdraaglijke stank verdragen. Mensenrechten verdragen. En morgen? Van hetzelfde laken 'n pak slaag? Walgelijk.
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